Sanxenxo news

Keels get shaved, teams struggle to get their boats afloat in strong winds while ABN AMRO line up against the Pirates

The weather has not been kind to the Volvo Ocean Race organisation or sailing teams, the gods throwing front after front from the Atlantic across the bay of Sanxenxo, with driving rain that does not allow you to even poke your head out of the window without getting absolutely soaked and winds of up to 40 knots and with a power behind them that makes it hard to walk. The last week has seen four yachts out on the hard having work carried out on them and an impossible task of trying to re-launch them because of the weather even if they were ready and wanting to go back in.

The Race Village was opened on Friday 28 October and looked spectacular with the most incredible stands and marquees for the teams, a setting that certainly gives the race all the glory it deserves. The area is covered with flags and banners, there was a start-up firework display and video footage displayed of the VO60s from previous races and some incredible visuals of the new generation Volvo Open 70s that sent shivers down the spines of all the spectators. The opening was an amazing feat by everyone concerned fighting against the weather - but then that is the nature of the race - not helped by a Spanish truck strike that had been going on for a week since the entourage first arrived, making it hard with containers not getting in or out.

Among the teams themselves there is a fever of urgency: the time has come and the sailors just want to get out there to demonstrate their weapons. Over the last few weeks there have been a few who have lined up and a few who have decided to while away their practice hours in secrecy. The Pirates lined up with the ABN AMRO 2 black boat last week in 30+ knots of breeze. The ABN boat showed Cayard's team what the luxury of an extra few months of training had done for them. Both yachts were sailing around tempting each other, then as ABN dropped her kite and rounded upwind, the Pirates went over dropped their kite too and engaged. The ABN yacht showed in a breeze how her crew had trained executing the manoeuvres efficiently and they had the boat up to speed straight away and trucked upwind. The Pirates looked like they had some issues with gear and apparently were not quite set up right, so could not match the pace.

The Volvo Team have been putting out a few marks for the yachts to play around. On a 10 knot SWerly day last week the Pirates, Brazil and ABN were out having some practice around a short course. Ericsson stood on in the background to watch and size up their opposition. Movistar have not joined in the battle either choosing to keep their cards close to their chest.

The boys on ABN seem quietly confident with their yacht, the double rudder system seems to be paying dividends in the breeze and did not seem to harm them too much later in the week in the light. All the yachts have wiped out from time to time in big breeze with spinnakers up. It seems the boats are so quick and light that they jump over one wave and into the one in front.

Many of the yachts have had issues with getting the canting keel to work to its optimum. Apparently earlier in the month Team Ericsson seemed to have a bit of trouble and the yacht was out of the water for a while in Vigo which delayed their arrival, making them the second last yacht here - the last being the Aussie’s with Premier Challenge, who have not arrived yet.

Premier Challenge have struggled with funding to see them through the whole race, and despite rumours that they will only make it to Melbourne, or maybe even less, one can only hope that they can keep their sights high: There are many big players coming into the Volvo Village and one never knows who may be out there wanting to be involved, after they have seen the spectacle of the race. It is hard to keep positive but they owe it to themselves, and, who knows, we have seen last minute funding coming through before. Let's keep our fingers crossed for them this time.

Brazil have been out of the water for an unusually long time, although it looks like they are back in tomorrow. While Movistar seem to be quietly in control, they had their christening on Friday. At this event the sun managed to shine for the necessary time on all the Dignitaries and a few of the battalions from Naval Academy, out in force singing to their marching band before it disappeared again! It did seem a little interesting to see two of the female Government Officials walking on the deck in stiletto heels. Let’s hope it wasn’t a high load area and didn’t put any punctures in the deck...

Measurement has been going on over the last week, with the boats being weighed. There has been a fair bit of grinding going on, on most of the team’s keels, some more than others, and some have had more time than others to be better prepared...

On the other side of the fence there has been a lot of action at the foot of the camp around the Volvo Extreme 40 catamaran class. At present there are three boats in the water and two more being put together. These are great - they arrive on a trailer that is pulled out of a 40 foot container and the arms extended width-wise so the boat can be assembled and rigged there and then. Once practiced it is reckoned the boats can be rigged in about 5 hours and on the water. The 40s will be an exciting interlude to the Ocean racing. The fledgling teams will get in some training next week and following Saturday's In Port racing for the 70s the following Monday will give the Village a taster of the speed and excitement we expect to see from the 70s as the race gets away.