If you were curious about what the most difficult maneuver is in a Volvo Ocean 70, it is a tight tack into the weather mark with the upwind code-zero up followed by a quick set of the spinnaker. Five big grinds in a row. A code-zero is a sail designed for sailing up wind that is set off the top of the mast and the end of the bow sprit. When fully trimmed in, it reaches all the way to the back of the boat, nearly 80 feet! Telefonica calls their code-zero “the anaconda” because it is so big. In order to tack, you have to furl the sail to get it around the headstay and then unfurl it on the new tack. Each time it takes six guys grinding to get it done. Follow that by a spinnaker hoist, another furl, and a big spinnaker trim and you really get a work out.
Saturday’s In-Port race in Boston was an amazing experience. Fan Pier was packed with people for the ceremonial dock out where the King of Sweden and the Prince of Saudi Arabia walked the dock and shook the hand of each crew member. Each boat left one by one with their theme song blasting and the announcer going through the list of crew members. Telefonica Black rocked out to “Black” by Pearl Jam.
Unfortunately, it was a very light wind day and we slowly cruised around under postponement for an hour. Even though it was very early in the season, Boston came out in full force with hundreds of spectator boats. The first race got started in 5-6 knots of wind, but with the “anaconda” we were able to do almost 10 knots upwind. Amazing boats.
The first race finished with a great jibing duel between our team in the black boat and Puma, who just nipped us in the end. The second race saw the wind build to 11 knots and we had a great start with Telefonica Blue leading us into the top mark. We held second all the way around the track until we caught a lobster pot on our keel and watched both Ericsson boats and Delta Lloyd pass us down wind into the finish. Puma was charging strong but this time we were able to hold them off. Our team claimed the bad luck was the lobsters getting back at us for the team dinner the previous night when we ate their cousins!
We returned to Fan Pier in reverse order of finish to full fan fair, more music and the announcer going through each team with a little bio of each sailor. Tens of thousands of people packed the water front and it was a real treat to be the “local addition to the all Spanish team.”
Joining Telefonica Black for the weekend was a truly amazing experience. I have gained a whole new level of respect for what these sailors go through racing around the world. The Volvo Ocean Race is truly life on the edge.
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