Saturday 27 June 2009

VOR: TELEFÓNICA BLACK LEG TEN DAY 1 QFB: received 25.06.09 2351 GMT

by Roger Nilsson (navigator)

Telefónica Black did not get off the starting line, just outside Sandhamn, as well as we normally do. After the traditional ‘show off’ loop, reaching fast both ways, we left the massive spectator fleet behind together with many nice memories from this first Volvo Ocean Race stop in Stockholm.

With only Delta Lloyd trailing us at the last turning mark, we set off in a long upwind climb for Russia in a modest northeasterly breeze. All day we were struggling to catch up but our attempt to sail slightly low and fast did not really work out, even if it looked good for a while..

When we finally tacked, two miles west of the famous lighthouse Ristna, on the Estonian island Dago, we had only Dragon behind us, as we really could not impress anyone else with our boatspeed.

Since then we have tacked twice, on good shifts, but we on Telefónica Black are still a couple of miles behind the leading pack and are intensely looking for a passing lane...time will tell...

Our energetic foredeck crew is not feeling too well as an infected wisdom tooth is bothering him for a few days...not much Dr Nilson can do for him as he already is on antibiotics and painkillers...poor young man.....

Volvo Ocean Race

No comments: