Editorial- Life at the Extreme

by nzeditor@sail-world.com on 22 May 2006 The official sub-title for the Volvo Ocean Race 'Life at the Extreme' was certainly bought into stark relief over the weekend and overnight.

Starting with the sad loss of a crewman from ABN Amro Two on Thursday, the fleet continued in a subdued fashion for some hours before moving back into race mode.

The sombre mood changed to ecstasy, when ABN Amro One crossed the finish line on Saturday night to take the Volvo Ocean race for 2005/2006 – and with two legs to spare!

In the circumstances of a new class rule; racing boats which not only hold the 24 hour monohull speed record, but have broken it three times by three different VO 70’s; plus winning six of the seven offshore legs (and missing the other by just nine seconds; Mike Sanderson’s team aboard ABN Amro One have set one of the all time great benchmarks in world sailing history.

Certainly Sanderson’s achievement ranks with Steinlager II’s six straight leg wins in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race. But each has its own flavour.

Then last night came the news that movistar (Bouwe Bekking) had keel problems which weren’t in the usual 'our bombdoors are leaking' category. The cause proved to be the whole keelpin had shifted, which the crew tried to shore up with lashing through structural bulkheads and halyards. Don’t forget this is the same boat that almost sank just short of Cape Horn, and is the same one that did the most trans-oceanic sea miles of any competitor before the race started. Plus she was the first to break the 24 hour monohull speed record.

Next came the news that the tail-enders in the Volvo Fleet were about to be hit by a Force 10 storm – the same ferocity as the one that cost 15 lives in the 1979 Fastnet Race. Not the place to be in a crippled Volvo 70 only staying afloat by the action of two pumps running constantly.

You can read the rest of the story in our features, plus the comment from Glenn Bourke CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race on the overall situation. Contrary to reports this morning in NZ, movistar is not believed to have sunk, and Bourke outlines the options for her.

In the ISAF World Games, New Zealand has not fared well, with Thomas Ashley being the best performed of the New Zealand team, finishing second in the Mens RS:X Board. Three other Kiwi crews made the top ten, or Medal Race fleet, and full marks to the efforts of the Australian crews at the event.

Good to see that Brett Bakewell-White has made the design transition from yachts to powerboats, with his Sleepyhead design picking up the national Powerboat title in the weekend after the final round in Tauranga.

On the America’s Cup scene, the fleet racing for Louis Vuitton Act 11 finished overnight, with Emirates Team NZ scoring a good second place and taking third overall in the event behind Luna Rossa and Alinghi. While this is a good performance, the only real point of significance is that the same boats took the top four slots in Acts 10 and 11, and that the way things stand one of these will win the 2007 America’s Cup.

There is a big read today. We are only presenting a selection of stories, and there is a lot more posted on our website www.sail-world.com. We will also be updating on the latest developments throughout the day.

Good Sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

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