Volvo Ocean Race - Puma steams towards South Africa + Video

by Amory Ross on 4 Dec 2011
Volvo Ocean Race, Day 29 of Leg 1. Amory Ross, MCM onboard Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reports on the crew's progress:

Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg’s easterly progress has resumed. At about 14:30 UTC yesterday afternoon our Puma’s Mar Mostro and it’s splintered mast were pulled from the waters of Tristan and placed on the deck of the freighter ship the Team Bremen. It is our new home, and we’re now steaming towards South Africa and the starting line of leg two at 14 knots. It would be an understatement to say that we’re relieved. There were so many variables; so many risks to the procedure that could have wrong, but it went flawlessly. Not a single hiccup, notta one.

The day started with an emotional goodbye to our gracious hosts of Tristan de Cunha, who took us in like one of their own. The beds, the food, the smiles – everywhere we turned somebody was doing something for us, offering to help in any way. Tristanians are great people and they certainly made our emotional recovery easier; we were lucky to have been marooned there. Brad was sporting his souvenir t-shirt last night and everyone proudly discovered their Tristan passport stamp this morning (it is massive). Thank you Tristan, thank you all. We know you’re reading this!



Once out to the boat we got started on the anchor. It took an hour to clear the forest of kelp that had accumulated there, another hour to motor into the lee of the volcano, another hour to tie up with the Bremen and set the lifting straps, another hour to lift, lower, and secure the boat, and then we were off, motoring at a heading of 085, just as the sun began to set. It’s hard to believe we have another three days at sea before Cape Town, but we’re finally going and that’s all that matters to any of us out here.

Chris Hill from the shore team came bearing a container full of tools, hardware, and beer, and it’s made work much more convenient. Ryan is fixing sails in the 'hold' below deck, Tom’s de-wiring the rig, Rome’s polishing the interior, Michi’s servicing winches, Casey’s laying carbon, Brad’s studying the damaged rigging – everyone’s got something to keep busy. We have no time to spare when we get in so each small job completed at sea is a big victory for leg twp preparedness.



In case any of you are worried that we work too hard, rest easy; our social schedule continues to thrive, even out here. We have a mid-ocean Team Bremen / Puma barbecue planned for tonight on the aft deck of the ship.

Dress code you ask? Stained and smelly.

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Puma Ocean Racing website