Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking brings the pain…
Even that the first couple of days out of Sanya in the Volvo Ocean Race were uncomfortable, it was again a relative light leg with a lot of of cloud action. After TeamBrunel’s move to North started paying of, we knew it was not going to be an easy lead to hang on, as we were sailing into lighter air. Is it frustrating that when you sail into lighter air and the other catch up? Of course it is, especially knowing that once across the equator the situation was not looking better for us.
The east was strong and during one sched, we got overtaken while we we stuck under a big thunderstorm. Then a unexpected the breeze build 10 knots more than forecasted and we shot back in the lead, pushing hard doing 130 miles in 6 hours. The issue was that we got more lifted breeze than the the boats behind and with a forecast of a hole to the west we decided to do a gybe towards the east. And that ‘s were we made a small but costly mistake.
The weather forecast changed in 12 hours completely and basically gybed too late back and every mile we sailed east was a loss, we went from 1st to 5th. If you would have had that crystal ball, we should have been sailing on, as afterwards the girls team, made a swift transition in the west. We got right back in the leaders and could the other boats during one night as we were all lined up with a separation of 8 miles measured east -west. Then the breeze filled in from the east, while we were stuck under a thunderstorm with no wind. Within 12 hours we were 70 miles behind the leading boats. That was it, form there on it was follow the leaders.
So what brings the next leg: hopefully some nice down wind sailing in some big breeze., where we have showed not be slow. For sure it will get very nippy and moist, also downstairs, where through condensation the interior changes into a rainforest, with continuous dripping water of the ceiling., with a 100% humidity . What is wet , stays wet. Unfortunately we are not allowed to install a diesel heater downstairs., to dry things out. Some of you might agree and say we are pussies, but when you haven’t been there, you don’t know how it is and what a miracle a bit of heat can do for the crew.
If you still think we are not tough enough try following: next time you step in your car in temperatures around 0 – 4 C( 32 – 38 fahrenheit) , while it is raining, having sleet or snow, LEAVE YOUR HEATER OFF, open your windows and drive around for couple of hours, or better even longer:-) I bet you change your mind us being pussies. For sure it will be the toughest leg until know.
cheers,
Bouwe
