Volvo Ocean Race- Team Alvimedica hopes to use Coastal Classic tricks

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 26 Feb 2015 Sail-World’s NZ Editor, Richard Gladwell spoke with David Swete one of three New Zealand crew in the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race

Swete was reporting in from Team Alvimedica the US and Turkish flagged entry, currently lying in fourth place on leg 4 of the race from Sanya China to Auckand.

'We are currently 200 miles east of Norfolk Island, and we are on a heading to hit New Zealand at Cape Brett, which is about 480nm from here.

'We are closing very fast and there is a good vibe on board.

Swete reported they were sailing in the SE Trades, which had picked up to 13kts and the Volvo 65 was making about the same speed on a close reach.

‘It’s starting to get a bit funky with a few clouds and we think the wind will increase a bit.’

In contrast Swete said the boats ahead, Mapfre, Abu Dhabi and Dongfeng were expected to sail into a lighter breeze and would park up a little. 'We have been steadily gaining. We get a sked every six hours and we have been gaining 10 miles every sked. It is happening very quickly. The guys behind us are slowly taking time out of us, too'

'The sea state is a bit confused. For the lst week it has been very confused particularly off Fiji, when we went though a trough and we were doing 18kts downwind into a head sea.

'Now we are not in surfing conditions – just reaching along with a funny head-sea.'

Swete says they were quietly confident of catching the boats ahead.

'The way we look at it we are going to intercept the coast at Cape Brett and do a reverse Coastal Classic. We know it will be close. We are expecting to see a combination of sea breezes and land breezes on the last day.'

'We have a funny feeling. Like when we came out of the trough off Fiji, when we went into it in second place and got spat out in fourth.'

'We were quite glad we were no Brunel, who had a 100nm lead at one stage – but is now 15nm behind us.'

'We are confident we can catch the guys in front, and hold off the guys behind.'

'The last day will be a Coastal race with a mix of land and sea breezes, and the routing is beginning to struggle with that at present.

Swete says they did a lot of work on the final approaches to Auckland, before they left Sanya, and the two Kiwis on board Alvimedica, believe they have a few tricks sorted for the final day.

'Last time on Sanya we went inside the Hen and Chickens – which is what you do on the Coastal Classic. We have had a lot of chats with local guys about the best approach.

'Even around North Head, there are still gains to be made in the harbour , with the tide off the seawall. It will all come into play, I’m sure.

'We’re looking at a very close finish.'

'This is the first really physical leg that we have had', says Swete. 'The others have been mentally trying, with a lot of drifting. There has been no drifting this leg. The first week out of Sanya was very hard, it was upwind and rough. There was a bit of seasickness on board. It was a real physical test which is good and what we are here for.'

'There has been a lot of straight line sailing and reaching off the Philippines. We were just trying to get the most out of the boat and concentrating on the helming to do that.

'It was very tough off Fiji and that was both mentally stressful and draining as we tried to pop out of there in good shape.

'Now that we are on the home run, with the finish line coming up, we tend to forget everything that happened on the leg.

'Now, sailing along in the Tradewinds it feels like a very nice leg!'

Swete says they have spent most of the leg, and in fact the race on port tack. 'Our toilet only works on port tack, which is good since we have spent 80% of our time on that tack.

Alvimedica had had a few bangs and crashes along the way. Swete reports they had a big bang a few nights ago. 'It hit the keel first and then the rudder. We had a good look at it in daylight and surprisingly there was no damage. I was sure it was going to take our rudder out!'

To date, Swete reports they have had little damage aboard Team Alvimedica.

The strongest windspeed they have seen on the leg is 38kts getting to 40kts, off the Phillipnes. Top boat speed have been in the 30kt region – which they were holding for extended periods.

Swete says their routing is telling them they will finish just a the Australian – New Zealand match finishes in the World Cricket. 'I’ve got tickets and don’t want to miss it. We have to average 11kts to make it in time – currently we are doing 15kts – so we are ahead of the required run-rate!'