12:10 AM Fri 26 Jun 2009 GMT
Latest emails from the Volvo Ocean Race fleet as they sail towards their final destination in St Petersburg, Russia.
TELEF?NICA BLUE LEG TEN DAY 1 QFB: received 25.6.09 2044 GMT
We just tacked with Ericsson 4 just few minutes after us. The last three hours have been a bit up and down, the wind was shifting quite a bit from something like 20 to 60 degrees TWD. The two Ericsson boats managed to climb up quite well on us thanks to some lifting puffs and we did the same thing to PUMA. We're only 200 metres in front of Ericsson 4, nearly one mile in front of Ericsson 3 and same distance behind PUMA. We're now all on port for another 30 minutes or so, after that we'll all tack again towards the channel. Everyone is hiking hard pushing the boat. It's going to be pretty long.
Gabri Olivo - MCM
ERICSSON 3 LEG TEN DAY 1 QFB: received 25.06.09 1800 GMT
I was a bit pessimistic in the first blog. I guess I was tired and Stockholm was too good to leave without a sad feeling. But once we got outside Sandhamn to the starting area, the mood got better.
Sun, flat water and 15 knots of breeze would make anyone happy.
Unfortunately, we did not come of the start line in a good way. We were stuck with no speed and our poor positioning did not improve by an override with the sheet for the headsail. But we sorted it out quickly and once we had rounded the last mark, we were just a couple of metres after Ericsson 4, with PUMA and Telef?nica Blue a bit further in front.
Now, at 1800, the positioning is pretty much the same. The Russians are behind us to leeward, Delta Lloyd and Green Dragon are straight to leeward. PUMA is still in front and Telef?nica Blue and Ericsson 4 are following closely behind.
The most action-filled incident we had so far was when our Finnish guest had to jump overboard. Mason helped her get the drysuit on, then he led her down to leeward, lifted her up and held her with one arm above the surface until he thought the chaseboat was close enough. Then he let her go. Splash and gone! You really understand why you don't want to fall overboard from one of these boat. To turn around and pick someone up would just take ages.
Magnus has cheered up a bit and is now smiling more. He still tired and he knows this will be though. 'It's a bit of an anticlimax but we have to fight on and finish this race in a good way', he says.
On the last legs we have had a big problem with tiredness. People just don't get enough sleep. This time we are going to use the 'standby watch' system a bit more and everyone will get down to rest as soon as they can.
Gustav Morin - MCM
GREEN DRAGON LEG TEN DAY 1 QFB: received 25.06.09 1616 GMT
Here we go again - sailing upwind and slowly losing miles. I will not miss this when the race ends. Fortunately, it cannot last for days, as St Petersburg is less than 300 miles away.
What a great city Stockholm is - it is definitely another place on my list that I will need to come and visit again. That city is built to host maritime events and the Archipelago is built for cruising. After the long but picturesque motor to the start off Sandhamn, we made a good start to the leg and enjoyed holding off Ericsson 4 and others for a leg or two. Now everybody is engaged in a drag race on port tack and we are nearly halfway to Estonia. Hopefully, something will change in the weather at some point to shake up proceedings. For now, it is a question of doing the best we can to stay in touch with the other boats. The conditions are perfect with flat water, medium winds and sunshine - who knows maybe we can get to St Petersburg without getting wet?
Ian Walker - skipper
ERICSSON 4 LEG TEN DAY 1 QFB; received 25.06.09 1328 GMT
So another jaunt into the unknown - Russia! Quite exciting in many aspects - the end of the race and the end of an adventure - all we have to do is hold out for the last day or so and get to St Petersburg in one piece.
Although we have completed our goal of winning the Volvo Ocean Race we will still be pushing as hard as normal onboard - there is no real off switch - we would desperately struggle to cruise Ericsson 4.
There seem to be a few changes in our galley curtain. Gone are the tea bags and cup soups and in there place are two bottles of port - which are strictly NOT for cooking, - but a nice small glass of port as we cross the finish line will be a pleasant way to end this race - after all we have a long motor to the customs dock in Russia.
The start loop is now complete and we are on the wind - in 12 kts of wind on a glorious sunny day. At present we have PUMA leading followed by Telef?nica Blue directly in front and on our line. Behind us are Ericsson 3 and, a way to leeward, are the other three boats. It's looking like the majority of this leg will be on the wind - something we seem to have done more than our fair share of on this lap.
So we are all settled in for the last leg - the stack is complete and the snacks are being handed around - Jules has just this second mentioned that we have 306 miles to go to the finish - that sounds like part time work to us - but I'm sure there are plenty of stories left in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.
Stay Tuned
Guy Salter - MCM
www.volvooceanrace.org/
by Various Volvo Ocean Race competitors
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