MAPFRE leads the Volvo Ocean Race fleet to start epic Southern Ocean leg
by Volvo Ocean Race 17 Mar 2018 22:48 PDT
18 March 2018
Volvo Ocean Race Leg 7, Auckland to Itajai © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet left Auckland for Itajaí, Brazil on Sunday following a spectacular start to Leg 7 from the City of Sails...
It was a spectacular start to Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Sunday afternoon, as the fleet left Auckland in perfect conditions.
The sun was out, the wind was near 20 knots, and as they have for 10 stopovers, the Auckland fans took to the water by the thousands to farewell the fleet. It wasn't a surprise – over the course of the Auckland stopover, over 500,000 fans came through the Race Village at the Viaduct Basin.
On Sunday afternoon the Kiwi spectator armada consisted of foiling kite-boards, windsurfers, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, sailing dinghies, as well as hundreds of power and sail boats, along with the former Whitbread Round the World Race winner, Steinlager 2.
It was MAPFRE, the overall race leader, who made the best start to lead the fleet around a loop of the Waitemata Harbour and out into the Hauraki Gulf, with Dongfeng, Team Brunel and Turn the Tide on Plastic in close and giving chase.
In a return to the heritage of the event, Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race will take the teams on a 7,600 nautical mile journey into the Southern Ocean, and around the iconic Cape Horn, before returning to the Atlantic Ocean towards the finish in Itajaí, Brazil.
"100% of the sailors that have done this leg have at one moment said it is too hard or too tough," said Charles Caudrelier, the skipper of Dongfeng Race Team. "But when you pass Cape Horn you have a huge feeling of pride that you have faced your fears."
"We're going into one of the more gruelling legs of the race," added Brunel's Peter Burling, a hero in New Zealand for bringing the America's Cup home last summer.
"The biggest challenge is the endurance aspect, having to keep the intensity high through some very difficult conditions... It's going to be pretty tough for any of us Kiwis to leave here, but we're all pretty excited to get into it."
The initial Ice Exclusion Zone will allow the teams to sail as far south as 59-degrees south latitude, well into the 'Furious Fifties', where wind and waves circle the planet unimpeded by land, allowing them to build to fearsome levels. It will be very cold that far south, and the routing will take the fleet to the most remote part of the world, Point Nemo, where the international space station is closer than any point of land.
There is a balance to be struck on this leg, between pushing the crew and equipment hard in the quest for victory, and ensuring the team is able to finish the leg at all.
"This is a part of the world where sometimes you have to forget about the race and just take care of the people and the boat," noted Caudrelier. "It's a special place, sailing in the South - the sea is bigger, the wind is stronger, so you need to be mindful."
The teams are getting straight into it – after leaving the final turning mark, the forecast is for an upwind slog into a 30-knot easterly as they aim to clear the Coromandel Peninsula and then the East Cape of New Zealand, before turning south in search of the low pressure systems that will power them towards Cape Horn, some 11 days away.
"It's going to be upwind and bumpy until East Cape," said Vestas 11th Hour Racing navigator Simon Fisher. His team is returning to the race after retiring from Leg 4 and missing the leg into Auckland while repairing damage to their hull.
"Going around Cape Horn represents a real milestone in the race. It's a big thing to get around the Horn and it's a moment of celebration for everyone on board as it means the end of the Southern Ocean and back to the relative safety of the South Atlantic.
"But by no means is it a moment to relax as some of the biggest challenges of this leg can be found between Cape Horn and the finish in Itajaí."
The initial ETA for the finish in Itajaí, Brazil is between April 4th and 6th.
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MAPFRE lead a spectacular start from Auckland (from MAPFRE)
It was an emotional, spectacular start to Leg Seven. As the Spanish team's shore crew agreed from the boat's support RIB, it really couldn't have been any more perfect; a pleasant temperature (20ºC), sunny skies and the odd cloud softening the strong southern hemisphere sunshine, whilst thousands of spectators on the water applauded the team as they led the fleet from the very start of the leg.
So begins the iconic Southern Ocean leg of the round-the-world race, which takes the teams down south, and around the legendary Cape Horn, and three months later, back into the Atlantic Ocean. Their destination: Itajai, in the south of Brazil, 7000 miles from Auckland.
A punctual start, dominated by MAPFRE
An impressive number and variety of spectators were out on the water in the Bay of Auckland to see off the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, with hundreds of sail boats, all shapes and sizes, RIBs, yachts, ferries, kite surfers (with and without foils), windsurfers and many, many others. Trimmer and helmsman Blair Duke, without a doubt, one of the most applauded team members.
The start gun sounded punctually at 14:00h local time (early morning in Spain), with a great performance from MAPFRE, driven by Cantabrian sailor Pablo Arrarte, one of the best helmsmen on the Volvo Ocean Race fleet.
A great start for the Spanish team, who immediately positioned themselves at the front of the fleet with noteworthy challenges from Dongfeng, and leading the entire three legs of the initial circuit within the Bay of Auckland.
After the last mark rounding, MAPFRE turned to head for Brazil at the front of the fleet, with over 23 knots of speed, to begin the long upwind route to the East Cape, the most easterly point of New Zealand.
Thereon in Xabi Fernández and his team will make their way southwards, marked by the ice gates, initially at 59º S.
"It has always been said that preparation is one of the most important parts of this race, and that is true particularly for these kinds of conditions. As a team we really like this kind of sailing, and I hope that once again we can fight for victory," declared the team's skipper Xabi Fernández, just moments before leaving the dock.
"In the last Southern Ocean leg from Cape Town to Melbourne, we saw that perhaps along with Dongfeng we had a greater advantage over the others, because we'd had more experience and training. But I think that the whole fleet is now much more equal," added Pablo Arrarte. "The other teams have all learnt a lot, and this leg is very likely to be extremely tough, so we are all going to be a lot closer than the last time."
The only crew change is the return of Cantabrian sailor Antonio "Ñeti" Cuervas-Mons, and initial predictions show that MAPFRE may take between 18 to 20 days to complete leg seven, i.e., the VO65s are expected to arrive in Brazil between 4th-6th April.
Vestas 11th Hour Racing rejoins Volvo Ocean Race for iconic leg to Brazil (from Vestas 11th Hour Racing)
Vestas 11th Hour Racing rejoined the starting line today for the longest leg of the Volvo Ocean Race from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajai, Brazil. Forecasts predict that they will sail nearly 7,100 nautical miles over the next three weeks, taking them into the extreme conditions of the Southern Ocean, around the iconic Cape Horn, and up the challenging east coast of South America.
"We will be leaving nothing on the table this leg," said skipper, Charlie Enright before docking out the Viaduct. "We are all just excited to be back on the water doing what we love to do and have a lot to gain."
Enright is referring to the sixteen points up for grabs on this seventh segment of the Volvo Ocean Race. A double-points leg - with a bonus point available for the first to round Cape Horn and another for the leg winner - could result in an immense gain on the scoreboard.
The blue boat has not competed for any points since Leg 3 after the tragic incident just prior to the finish in Hong Kong removed the team from participation but remains tied for fourth place and within distance of getting back on the podium.
"Sailing in home waters is always gratifying," said 2-time Volvo Ocean Race winner, Tony Mutter." But being part of a team carrying a bigger message of sustainability here at home is something that is truly special for me." Mutter lives here in New Zealand and works to protect the watershed that runs through his backyard by not using harmful chemicals that will eventually run into the ocean.
Today, the entire fleet sailed an inshore course and just before turning North Head to cross the Hauraki Gulf. All Blacks rugby legend, Keven Mealamu, and longtime team supporter, Roy Disney, took the plunge off the back of the boat as the team's official leg jumpers. As soon as they round Coromandel Peninsula tonight, the crew will be facing ocean conditions for the drag race south, with the goal of sailing the least amount of distance to Cape Horn.
"We are tremendously thankful to our shore crew all those who have gotten us back into the race," said Mark Towill during a traditional Hawaiian boat blessing ceremony that occurred a few days before the leg start. "It's the leg everyone dreams about, in the last race, Charlie and I were the first to round Cape Horn with Alvimedica and that was the highlight of the race for us. There is so much to look forward to and we have a big challenge ahead but our team is ready for it."
Over the last five weeks in Auckland, Vestas 11th Hour Racing has repaired their Volvo Ocean 65, tested the boat in the In-Port and Pro-Am races, and met 11th Hour Racing grant recipient Dr. Ingrid Visser with Orca Research Trust. The team is expected to round Cape Horn around March 31st and finish in Itajai, Brazil between April 5th and 7th.
Crew List for Leg 7:
- Charlie Enright - USA - Skipper
- Simon Fisher - UK - Navigator
- Nick Dana - USA
- Hannah Diamond - UK
- Phil Harmer - AUS
- Stacey Jackson - AUS
- Tom Johnson - AUS
- Tony Mutter - NZL
- Mark Towill - USA
- Jeremie Lecaudey - FRA - Onboard Reporte
Spectacular start to Leg 7 as Dongfeng Race Team head off for "a very special leg" (from Dongfeng Racing)
A large spectator fleet were treated to some close and aggressive racing on Sunday afternoon in Waitemate Harbour for the Leg 7 start from Auckland to Itajai. Whilst MAPFRE set the pace from the offset, Dongfeng Race Team and the rest of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet refused to give the Spanish boat any breathing space as they charged around the race course in 20 knots of wind.
Dongfeng were first to pick up on a bad gybe by MAPFRE just after the top mark, with the Chinese boat showing their rivals exactly how it was done by executing a slick manoeuvre to shorten the gap.
Team Brunel and Turn the Tide on Plastic followed seconds behind, with a series of close crosses between the four frontrunners making for some spectacular racing. The fleet were quick to complete the loop, with Dongfeng Race Team leaving Waitemate Harbour and heading out into the Hauraki Gulf just 14 seconds behind MAPFRE.
The sailors will already be experiencing uncomfortable boat-slamming conditions on board, with a forecast of 30-knots of wind and upwind sailing as the fleet head for the East Cape of New Zealand before turning south to head for Cape Horn.
Find out what the sailors had to say just before jumping on board for the most challenging and longest leg of the race:
Charles Caudrelier:
"It is very special. We are going to go in the Southern Ocean, past Cape Horn. We are very late in the season so the weather forecast is not very good to go in Cape Horn."
"It is very special because it is the only part of the world where you go with no possible assistance and only the other sailors around you. You have to think about safety first and it is what makes the start a bit special. You have the stress of the performance along with the stress of the safety."
"We know it is going to be tough. Water under 5 degrees, air under 5 degrees and maybe some snow. There is 10 really hard days coming which of course makes the start a bit different than the other one."
Chen Jinhao (Horace):
"I am feeling very excited at the moment. I remember 3 years ago when we were here and I missed the leg because of injury. We are ready and I am ready and want to fight for the victory."
Jeremie Beyou:
"Things are getting serious now because the Southern Ocean and Cape Horn is somewhere that you are not used to going. It is all about having a good leg, trying to catch MAPFRE. You have to be really switched on, do clever things and try to enjoy it too even if it is cold, wet and windy so try to enjoy being in the middle of nowhere with the wonderful crew."
Team Brunel starts most iconic and valuable leg of the race (from Team Brunel)
After a three-week stopover in the City of Sails, Team Brunel has left Auckland (NZ). Heading to Itajai (BR), leg 7 is the longest leg in the race, stretching 7.600 nautical miles. With an additional bonus point for the first boat round Cape Horn and double points at the finish, this is the most valuable leg of the race.
Leaving Auckland in third
The leg start and the first lap in front of the city center was characterised by a shifty and gusty wind with constantly changing positions in the fleet. After the last mark, before sailing in to open sea, Team Brunel was in third position behind race leader Mapfre and Dongfeng Race Team.
Iconic
For Kiwi Peter Burling there are no doubts about the heroic value of this leg. Burling: "I suppose we are going in to the most iconic, more grueling legs of the race. So yeah, I'm pretty excited to head down to one of the most remote parts of the planet."
16 points on the table
With only 6 points in the overall standings between Team Brunel, in sixth place, and the current number three Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag this leg can upset the overall standings completely. Kyle Langford (AUS): "There are a lot of points up for grab and we need them. We're behind on the leader board. Everybody on board wants to win and we are all competitive people."
Make or break
Volvo Ocean Race veteran and Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking, who will go around the Cape for the 9th time is clear about the importance of the leg. Bouwe Bekking: "It's a tricky leg. This is one of the legs that can make or break your team and of course a good result will give us a boost."
Cold
Kyle Langford: "The leg is going to be horrible, but i'm really looking forward to the mental challenge of it. It's just going to be cold, wet and hard work. Cape Horn is a massive thing in sailing, it's the Mount Everest of sailing. There are not that many people going around it, so that will be a big achievement. And something that i've wanted to do."
Bouwe Bekking: "It's going to be bloody cold. It's probably the best sailing you can get. We know the boats well at this point and we will be pushing 100%."
Kia Ora Tamaki Makaurau! Team AkzoNobel leaves New Zealand bound for Brazil on notorious seventh leg of the Volvo Ocean Race (from Team AkzoNobel)
Team AkzoNobel has set off from Auckland, New Zealand on Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race – a treacherous 14,000-kilometer voyage through the wilds of the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn to Itajaí, Brazil.
The nine-person team AkzoNobel crew left Auckland in fifth place in the seven-boat Volvo Ocean Race fleet after sailing conservatively during the short inshore section of the course on Waitemata Harbour today.
A huge spectator fleet took to the water for the leg start at 1400 local time in New Zealand (0200 CET) and accompanied the fleet as the boats streaked spectacularly past Rangitoto Island in around 15 knots of wind and out into the Hauraki Gulf.
Ahead lie 18 to 20 days of intense racing through the remote and storm-tossed waters of the Southern Ocean close to the frozen wastes of Antarctica.
Eighteen days ago team AkzoNobel sailed into Auckland at the front of the fleet to win Leg 6 of the eight-month, 83,000-kilometer around-the-world race. The result moved the team into fourth place in the overall standings with five legs still to race before the finish at The Hague in the Netherlands in June.
Now the sailors hope to be able to mount an attack on the podium with a strong result in the leg to Brazil which is the longest in the race and counts for double points. An extra bonus point is on offer for the team that is first around Cape Horn.
"With so many points on the table this leg could be a game changer for any of the teams," said team AkzoNobel watch captain Chris Nicholson (AUS). "We have some momentum behind us right now and we are all very focused on keeping that going with a solid result in Brazil."
Although weather conditions were close to perfect for the start of the leg the crews are expecting a pounding on their first night at sea as headwinds over 30 knots are expected to churn up huge waves overnight.
After clearing New Zealand's East Cape the fleet will look to make a pronounced dive south aiming for what is nicknamed as the "storm track" – the unobstructed area of ocean at the bottom of the globe where intense storm systems rage unchecked around the world at speeds up 50 kilometers per hour.
"We know we need to protect the boat early in the leg," said skipper Tienpont.
"Any damage early on could seriously hamper us once we are down in the south where we need to be able to hook into a storm front and ride it as far and as fast as we can. To do that we need the boat and the crew to be 100 per cent."
Helmsman and sail trimmer Luke Molloy said the crew was taking on the daunting leg with confidence after nearly three weeks of unstinting effort by the team's technical shore crew to overhaul the boat from stem to stern.
"It's the best the boat has been since it was new," Molloy said. "That is really important as we take on what is an epic leg of the race in some of the toughest conditions we have experienced so far."
"There are several teams – us included – who need a good result in this leg to make a challenge on the leading teams. That means everyone will be pushing themselves and their boats hard all the way to Brazil.
"We are wary of the conditions, but a race is a race and we want to get there first."
Air and wind temperatures are expected to dip as low as six degrees Centigrade in the lower latitudes with the effects of wind chill resulting in toe and finger numbing cold for the sailors on deck.
Estimates based on the latest weather data predict a fast passage for the fleet with the leading boats expected to reach Cape Horn at the southern tip of Chile in around 11 days.
Although the crews will likely breathe a sigh of relief to be exiting the Southern Ocean the route north to the Brazilian city of Itajaí could also prove taxing as the teams negotiate swirling ocean currents and strong unpredictable katabatic winds plummeting down from the towering Andes mountain range.
"We have an overall game plan for the leg," said Chris Nicholson. "The extra point for being first at the cape could prove very useful but after that there are something like 1,800 miles of racing to the finish where positions can easily can change."
"It's going to be a tough leg for sure but we are also looking forward to some fun fast sailing on the way to Brazil."