Volvo Ocean Race - Team Brunel puts up a great show

by Robbert-Jan Metselaar on 17 Feb 2015 In the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race Team Brunel has been in the lead since yesterday morning. Six days ago, the crew of the Dutch boat, and the ladies of Team SCA, were alone in opting for the northern route. In spite of the many miles that the two boats now had to cover, skipper Bouwe Bekking’s team could reap the fruits of this well-considered tactical decision within a week. Team Brunel now has a lead of 80 miles over the number two boat Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

The reason why Team Brunel has been able to compensate for more than 100 miles’ difference with the fleet in the south has to do with more wind and a better wind angle. This sailing term possibly needs some further explanation. The Dutch boat can sail a lower course than the four teams in the south. Lower means that the wind hitting the sail more from behind. Because of this, the speed of the boat is somewhat higher. This is why Team Brunel has been sailing more than three knots faster than the others for the last few days.

However, the strong wind and big waves on which Team Brunel has been thriving have claimed their first victim. 'I’m rounding Cape Horn even if they have to chop my arm off,' said Gerd-Jan Poortman. The Dutch sailor has had quite a scare. During a sail change in the dead of the night, the bowman was caught by a wave and thrown against one of the raised dagger boards. The result is a burst eardrum and a bruised arm. Poortman was immediately packed off to his bunk with a heavy dose of painkillers. 'That’s when you think, shit, the next stage of the leg is rounding Cape Horn,' says Poortman.

Poortman is something of a specialist in hitting the dagger boards. In 2006, the same thing happened on the ABN AMRO 2, and he broke his back. Because he later missed out on the legendary Cape Horn stage again, now with Team Delta Lloyd, rounding the Horn has become a goal in itself for Poortman.

This morning, Poortman reported for duty in the battle against the elements in spite of the fact that he was hardly able to move his arm. Skipper Bouwe Bekking had a different view, however, and the bowman was sent back to his bunk. The same remedy also did the trick earlier this week when Pablo Arrarte was struck down with ‘flu’.

Despite a full sick-bay, the mood on board Team Brunel is excellent. 'The water is warm, our speed is good and the waves are perfect,' said Rokas Milevicius from the boat. 'For me, these are ideal sailing conditions.' But the masterminds behind this brilliant tactical manoeuvre are keeping a cool head. 'I’m only going to party if we sail into Auckland in first place,' says Andrew Cape. The Australian navigator and skipper Bouwe Bekking had one hundred per cent confidence in the northern route. 'It wasn’t a gamble at all,' says Bouwe Bekking. 'I was amazed that the other teams didn’t go north with us.' 'It was still a risky decision though,' adds Jens Dolmer. 'If it had gone wrong, we would have been in a fine mess.'

Andrew Cape is less than impressed with the strategy of the other teams. 'The other boats are sailing very defensively. It’s like a procession and nobody dares to make a decision like ours.' The young sailors like Louis Balcaen and Rokas Milevicius are very happy that their skipper and navigator have had the guts to do something different to the rest. 'We have to keep barrelling on and build up a lead of more than 100 miles,' shouts Laurent Pagès euphorically. Bouwe Bekking makes light of the French sailor’s enthusiasm. 'The further ahead we are, the easier it will be for them to sail round us at the Equator. I want a big lead after the Equator.'