How to win the Volvo Ocean Race

Illbruck Watch Captain Stu Bannatyne shares his Southern Ocean experience and discusses how his team have got it right - so far!

A six-week break (very important not to burn out with such a long build-up) was followed by a southern hemisphere training phase. We evaluated a new carbon mast while getting some valuable Southern Ocean experience as a crew and then equally valuable race experience against three other Volvo teams. Competing in the Sydney Hobart Race and then on to Auckland was a great dry run for the race proper.

A few teams this time around have been struggling with preparation time most notably the Amer Sports boats led by Grant Dalton and Lisa McDonald. Dalts has proved how his vast experience coupled with a little bit of luck has kept them very much in the game and they will be improving all the time, probably at the fastest rate of all the teams.

The current setup of equal points for each leg with most of the long legs in the beginning certainly helps the Amer Sports teams get up to pace without potentially losing too many points. On illbruck it was always important that we could score well in the first half of the race, as we are probably closest to the end of the learning curve of all the teams. So far this is working out for us but there is still a long way to go and for sure some of the shorter legs at the end will see some big upsets in the results.

Lisa's team has struggled thus far but I think they have been smart in sailing conservatively through the Southern Ocean. This is a long race and I think they have learned a lot and managed to stay in one piece without too much sail damage, which should hold them in good stead for the latter stages.

Some of the teams have pushed hard in the Southern Ocean and have damaged sails badly, some beyond repair. These brash tactics may come back to haunt them later on as they may be forced to race with older, repaired sails where more conservative teams will be bringing out new sails. The close quarters
racing of the final few legs will be intense and the real and psychological advantage of brand new sails will make a significant difference.

The question now is who will be the front runners for the coming legs. Having lined up against all the teams at some stage during the last leg I am still not prepared to disregard any team. The speed differences between the boats are insignificant and I think the results will still come down to crew work and decision-making. I couldn't be happier when I look around at our crew, we have fast drivers, great trimmers, a world-class tactical team and great humour on board!