Volvo Ocean Race – Team Brunel set for Leg 2 from Lisbon to Cape Town

by Team Brunel on 4 Nov 2017 On Sunday afternoon at 14.00 UTC the Volvo Ocean Race resumes with the start of Leg 2.

The seven participating boats will set course from Lisbon to Cape Town, where the fleet is expected to finish between the 25th and 28th of November.

After winning the In-Port Race, Team Brunel looks to continue their upward trend.

Bekking: it's just like the first time in 1985-‘86
It’s Bekking's eighth time. For the first time the route to the south looks the same as Bekking’s debut in 1985-’86 on the Philips Innovator.

Bouwe Bekking: “We’re not forced to go along the Brazilian coast like it was the case the last few times. Chances are high though that a big part of the fleet will still do so. If you ask me now, a day prior to Leg 2, I’d say chances are 90-10 in favour of a western route. But, we know it all might change during the race. We have to anticipate on the weather forecasts we’re getting, but also keep an eye on the rest of the fleet and in what place we are at that moment. The race is really starting now.”

We want to make it right
After the somewhat disappointing sixth place in Leg , the team has made use of the week to evaluate. Bekking: 'We talked a lot the last days. Everyone is very eager and we know what we have to do. We want to turn things around the next leg. It’s actually pretty simple: the team that makes the least mistakes wins. During the In-Port Race on Friday, the same thing was the case. We were the team that made the least mistakes. Offshore sailing is a whole different ball game. We’re going for it and are very confident.”

Langford never offshore that long
Kyle Langford: “ When you look at the map, the shortest route to Cape Town is following the African coastline. Seeing the way the weather systems work, that’s probably not the best way to go. I’m wondering what it will be like, because it’s a new experience for me. I’ve never been offshore that long for a consecutive period of time. We’ll see!”

Crewlist Team Brunel Leg 2
Bouwe Bekking - Skipper
Andrew Cape - Navigator
Carlo Huisman
Alberto Bolzan
Kyle Langford
Maciel Cicchetti
Peter Burling
Annie Lush
Abby Ehler

OBR - Rich Edwards