Volvo Ocean Race - Team Vestas Wind contemplates the tropics + Video

by Team Vestas Wind on 22 Oct 2014 The Atlantic has proved to be a test for the VO65s in the Volvo Ocean Race and their teams as a battle of gybing down the west coast of Africa broke out, keeping all boats in a relatively tight-knit pack for much longer than expected.

Having passed Morocco and the Canaries, we were drawn to the tricky-to-handle magnet of Cape Verde. Normally we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see the archipelago, but the weather routing had us take advantage of the funnel effects between the islands. It was a first for Skipper Chris Nicholson: 'I might have been around the world three or four times, but this is my first time in this neck of the woods'. We came out the other side well-placed as we headed west towards the Doldrums.



We’re actually crossing to the East of the fleet, the furthest East in fact, but according to Navigator Wouter Verbraak: '27 degrees west is not that far East'. As the rain showers and expectations build ahead of our Equator crossing, now’s the time to start tormenting the younger guys about meeting King Neptune. It’s only fair that they see a strong build up to the big day!

This has indeed been a Leg of firsts so far for all on board: The first time through Cape Verde More here] for many, a country (like Morocco More here] and 33 others) in which Vestas installed the first commercial wind turbine; the first whale sighting which gave Tom Johnson a scare as one appeared just metres away from the Vestas Wind; and the first time Nicolai encountered a flying fish, a phenomenon he refused to believe existed until one hit him on the head at 30 knots.

It's about working together and getting the job done, making good decisions quickly, and enjoying every minute of it.

#jointherace as we continue our journey to Cape Town and around the world on a race against climate change, a race against water scarcity, a race against energy poverty, a race we must Team Vestas Wind website