New 24 hour record possible

As Volvo fleet experience more gale force winds

WE’RE FREE, WE’RE FREE! NOW WHICH WAY IS EVERYONE GOING TO GO?

a report from on board ASSA ABLOY by Mark Rudiger

At sunrise this morning we were finally free of the imposed 'No go Zone' north of 40 North between 51 and 45 West. We were lucky as well as leaving
just the right amount of room to be able to tack when we wanted and play the Gulf Stream past the eastern corner.

Now we're all free for the next 1800 miles to go where we want. And already we're seeing some different thinking. One thing is pretty clear however, there is a big High in the middle of the road and we have to figure the best way around.

Today is turning into one of those days us ocean racers live for. The latest sked just came in and I took it up on deck and sat down on the sails to weather and took a look around. We had the masthead reacher up with clear blue skies and clear blue ocean.

I was feeling rested and felt successful to this point of the leg. But after a minute or two, everyone was staring at me and the piece of paper in my hand. Oh Yeah...do you want the good news, or the bad news? It seems each watch wants it differently. The Magnus [Olsson] watch wanted to get the bad news out of the way first, so as to be able to end on a good note.

OK, the bad news: illbruck gained one mile. No one seemed too disturbed at that, what else? Uh well that is all the bad news! Big grins all around. The good news: We passed the half way mark, we gained eight to ten miles on the rest of the fleet, we're well positioned for new breeze, and there is new bag of Turkey Jerky in the galley thanks to Big Mikey [Mike Howard]. I got a huge applaud for that and everyone stampeded below and as usual the navigator found an empty bag moments later.

As long as the animals are fed I guess....

THE NUMBERS GAME, WHAT’S YOUR LUCKY NUMBER?

One thing that goes through my mind occasionally and it happened big time last night was how many numbers our brains are assimilating and computing out here daily. And how sometimes it comes down to one number that you need to make or break your success. For instance we needed a wind direction of 60 or more to lay the corner this morning. If we had to tack, it would have cost dearly, especially on illbruck. The guys behind were praying for 70 or more. We got 65! Just made it and gained. Airline pilots and accountants among others know what I mean about all the numbers.

Sitting in the Nav-station, I'm looking at position, wind speed, direction, course, course and speed over ground, current direction and speed, bearing and distance to the mark, sailing wind angles, performance factors, barometer, water temp., etc..

Then the sked comes in: Other boat positions, range and bearing to them, gains losses, their speed and headings compared to ours, distance ahead behind to the mark, etc.

Then the GRIB weather files come in: Optimum course and speed to mark, wind speed and direction down the track, calibration numbers for the GRIB, how long will it take etc. Then there's constant plotting numbers on the chart and in the logbook, and important numbers like how many more minutes until the next meal or naptime. The guys on deck are likewise always looking at constantly changing numbers on the 15 displays, especially the watch mounted outside to keep track of the next meal and watch change.

What would we do if numbers hadn't been invented? I know Guillermo [Altadill] would say "Go fast to de mark! Nothing else matters!" Good to have someone around with the basics in mind.

So speaking of numbers, I think I've exceeded my character limit and the guys are wanting to know what course we want to net out after six hours and what wind we’re going to have, so have to go and 'crunch' a few hundred thousand more numbers before lunch.

Cheers for now
Mark 'Rudi' Rudiger
ASSA ABLOY RACING TEAM