Volvo Race - Team Russia consider retiring

by Event media on 3 Dec 2008
It is painful, but at least it is progress for Kosatka Team Russia still at sea on leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race.

In a telephone call this morning, skipper Andreas Hanakamp reported that the team has wind and it is propelling them towards India at 16 knots.

'Now we have wind that is not predicted in any weather forecast, just as we had no wind when it was predicted,' said Hanakamp ironically. The team is currently 120 nautical miles off the southern tip of India, with approximately 250 nm to run to the finish. The weather is overcast and hot, but bearable, as long as you are not grinding or moving sails.

'It’s hard to say when we will finish,' said Hanakamp. 'Thank God we are not racing on elapsed time,' he added. If the team keeps the wind they have, then Hanakamp thinks they could cross the finish in Cochin tomorrow night or possibly early Thursday morning. What he doesn’t want is to be becalmed for two days off the coast of India. 'That,' he says, 'would be unbearable.'

The team is very disappointed and just want to get the leg over and have some rest. They considered retiring and motoring to the finish, but they all agreed that they want to finish this leg in style and they have enough food and diesel to keep them going for the next few days. Although they have a long job list onboard, the boat is strong and there are no major repairs to be made.

Volvo Ocean Race - Leg Two Finishing Order into Cochin, India

1. Ericsson 4/SWE (Torben Grael/BRA)
2. Telefónica Blue/ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED)
3. Ericson 3/SWE (Anders Lewander/SWE)
4. Telefónica Black/ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP)
5. PUMA/USA (Ken Read/USA)
6. Delta Lloyd/NED (Roberto Bermudez/ESP)
7. Green Dragon/CHN/IRL (Ian Walker/GBR)
8. Team Russia/RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) (RACING)

Overall Leaderboard (Provisional)

1. Ericsson 4: 26 points (FINISHED)
2. Telefónica Blue: 19 points (FINISHED)
3. PUMA: 18 points (FINISHED)
4. Green Dragon: 16 points (FINISHED)
5. Ericsson 3: 14.5 points (FINISHED)
6. Telefónica Black: 13.5 points (FINISHED)
7. Delta Lloyd: 7.5 points (FINISHED)
8. Team Russia: 6.5 points (RACING)