Volvo Ocean Race Q&A- with Pedro Sardina

by Volvo Ocean Race on 22 Sep 2009 Pedro Sardina, sailing correspondent of Spanish newspaper ABC, has dedicated 30 years to the sport. When he talks sailing, Spain listens. He gives his views on the 2008-09 race and suggests changes for the future.

What are your fondest memories of the race?

I am a big fan of Peter Blake's Steinlager (1989-90). For me, the best Spanish skipper in the Volvo Ocean Race has been Javier de la Gandara, and the best Spanish campaign was Galicia 93-Pescanova (1993-94).

does the race mean for Spain?

From 1993 to 2005 the fact that we didn't have Spanish entries in the race was painful but the start in 2005 from Vigo was spectacular. The only disappointment was that we had thousands of boats at the start and public too, but as soon as the race left, the interest declined. But now, with three more races on the way, Spain is on the map once again.

was the impact of the 2005-06 race start in Galicia on the Spanish media?

Sailing in Spain was low key. We were just starting to talk about the America's Cup, but there wasn't too much focus on sailing in the media. The arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race meant some media started to give sailing more coverage. We started to meet the sailors, and the public relations campaigns by the teams were proactive. We also had a race organisation we could talk to openly which made our jobs easier as did the Volvo Ocean Race's structure - the resources for the Spanish media to cover the event; Spanish speakers in the organisation; a cool Spanish web site.

would you position the Volvo Ocean Race in world sports events rankings?

The Volvo Ocean Race is the most extreme regatta around the world - outside of solo sailing. It's on the way to the top; maybe just now is not in the top three. But all the processes are going OK, so it will come. The Volvo Ocean Race media team has to make a big noise to grab the attention of the taxi driver, the baker, the lady at the bank, etc. To do this you must create human being stories.

has Spain learned to assimilate events such as the Volvo Ocean Race and the America's Cup?

We have learnt we cannot have and capture all. The America's Cup went wrong because we wanted to have the full package: we wanted the AC, a team at the finals; we wanted to be both judge and jury. The AC has failed because the AC spirit was broken in Valencia. In Valencia they thought with money we could host the AC for life.

you think it could happen again with the Volvo Ocean Race?

The same story could happen if the politicians in this country don't wise up in time. Volvo Ocean Race is an independent body to the politicians. The race has its spirit, and the competition prevails over other things by itself. If, from now, the race would be more commercial it will be bad for it. The Volvo Ocean Race must be an independent body. It must go with the philosophy of the race and keep on it; politicians can buy the start of the race but not the race.

politics dangerous in sport?

Politics are always a health risk for the sport. Politics always damages sport.

is the balance?

The balance is to be found if the politicians do whatever they must do and sailors and organizations are left to carry out their mission - racing and providing economic/ media return for their sponsors. Politicians cannot be sportsmen, and sportsmen cannot be politicians. This issue had happened in the America's Cup; it's the bad example. At the AC the politicians thought they were going to have control over the spirit of the race, the protocol and more.

has been the most interesting aspect of the 2008-09 race?

The speed of the boats and the strategy. The story of Ericsson 3 in Qingdao, starting with no time and in the last position and winning the leg was impressive. As a race I consider the close racing and all the new tools to follow the race. This edition has been really interesting because we have lived it. The Virtual Game has been a great discovery and you could easily get hooked on it and the general public have been involved in the race. As a result, ordinary people now know what the Volvo Ocean Race is.

are the challenges of your job as a Spanish sailing journalist?

Sailing is a difficult sport to explain. If you want the coverage to be read, you have to deal with the sailors as professional sportsmen, like in soccer. A lot of Spanish sailors have a lack of media culture. A number of them have no idea that it's part of their salary. That has to change. They cannot refuse to talk to a journalist.

the new media tools from the boats made a difference?

The advance has been great, the new tools have been in place, bu the media need to get used to how to use them. The website has been really good with all the reports, interviews and photos to download. If the race is far away you loose some interest and you get focused in key points more well-known by the public like Cape Horn or Cape of Good Hope. There must be more focus on human being stories, describing the fear, the satisfactions, etc. This is an extreme race and for long times we don't notice it.

is your view of the Media Crew Member role?

It is a great addition and it can work even better if the MCM is well advised by a journalist. He must describe the scene. He must communicate stories of life on board. All teams have secrets, but the MCM must be independent to tell what's going on on the boat. If there is a dispute, an issue or whatever, he must write about it. Maybe the MCM must be independent from the team and designated by the race organisers.

do you see the media role in the next edition?

From a media point of view, the Volvo Ocean Race must have continuity, it cannot be stopped as soon as the race finishes and cannot start six months before the next race, because all the media work done will disappear. It must be like the Olympic Games: training period, starting period, Volvo Ocean Race period as the race, and the next edition period. You never stop talking about the Olympic Games. The media role in an event such as this must be fundamental and the journalist must be integrated in the organization. They must be one more member of the family. The journalist must be looked on not as an enemy, but as a friend. The journalist must know about how Volvo Ocean Race works ... why was this route was chosen?; why a Volvo Open 70? These questions must be answered.

would you change in the next race?

The stopovers must be shorter. It doesn't matter if there are 9 or 12 but you cannot be on land for a month. You loose the notion of the race and a lot of media opportunities because there isn't a lot of sailing activity. The Volvo Ocean Race must go forward step by step, and the decision to reduce costs and budgets is a good point, because it will increase entries. In Formula One they haven't been able to do it. Volvo Ocean Race is more of an endurance test. It's not only about speed.

many Spanish boats would we see at the starting line?

I hope to see three. As for the skippers, the most well-prepared boat will be that of Roberto Chuny Bermudez - as I think he is the most serious and the guy with more preparation and experience in Spain. He is the only one in Spain with a clear idea about how to create a winning team. The second one would be Guillermo Altadill and the third, as a junior player's team, would be Iker Martinez.