Oceanracing 2001 - Volvo Ocean Race 2001/2002

Volvo Ocean Race 2001/2002

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Southampton, England, October 25th, 2001 Day 33
Kostecki Conquers First Leg
The illbruck Challenge confirmed their pre race billing by winning the opening leg of the Volvo Ocean Race into Cape Town yesterday evening. John Kostecki’s team crossed the finish line at 20:19:49 GMT (22.19.49 local time).
The green and white Farr design had taken 31 days, six hours and 19 minutes to complete the 7,350 nautical mile leg from Southampton, England and had led the eight boat fleet for nearly half the leg in total.
Sailing into table Bay under the silhouette of the majestic table Mountain, lit up only by the flash charges from swarming photographer’s RIBs, the crew reindexed composed until the finishing signal was heard.
A fit looking crew jubilantly punched the air, marking the end of long and testing leg and a fitting result for one of the best-prepared boats in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet.
Right after crossing the finish line, the illbruck campaign’s support boat with syndicate head Michael Illbruck on board approached the racing yacht to celebrate a team victory.
While most pundits had expected John Kostecki’s crew to dominate the opening leg as justification for their three year programme, it is evident it was not the walk in the park that had also been predicted.
Two hours and one minute later, Grant Dalton’s entry Amer Sports One, one of the last yachts to be launched, finished in a remarkable second position. They had led the final charge across the south Atlantic for eight days, only relinquishing the lead to illbruck in the dying twelve hours of a five week leg.
For most, losing such a lead would have been a bitter pill to swallow. Not for Dalton. He had surpassed his wildest expectations by a country mile.
"In some ways winning this leg would have been a bad thing for us. We might have started to think we were pretty special and we're not special at all," admitted Dalton after he had tied up in the Victoria Basin. "Really our speed was indicated by the point we got to Trindade, when we were fifth - that was about where we should have been. I didn't think we were any better than that."
Later on, with reflection Dalts added: “We were not disappointed to come second at all".
But the night belonged to the green team. The illbruck Challenge for the Volvo Ocean Race, running parallel to a 2003 illbruck America’s Cup challenge, is an evolution of over 30 years of competitive sailing by the illbruck-Pinta team.
It was born out of company founder Willi Illbruck’s passion for racing that started with his One Tonner, Pinta, back in 1969. Significant victories since then have included twice being on the winning German Admiral's Cup team as well as success in the One Ton and Sardinia Cups.
The German based project was announced in January 1998 prior to the finish of the 1997-98 Whitbread race. The team soon after acquired the winning boat from that race, EF Language and sistership EF Education. With those boats as benchmarks, 1988 Olympic Silver Medallist and America’s Cup tactician John Kostecki started an extensive research programme in boat and sail development.
The team’s immaculate level of preparation was a lesson to everyone during assembly week. Their yacht sat happily unattended in Ocean Village fully victualled while their competitors scurried around making last minute and final second adjustments. Indeed, the sailing team were so confident they took a two week break in the month prior to the start.
The illbruck team were sailing like a team possessed over the final few days, turning Amer Sports One’s forty-mile lead into a sixteen mile deficit by the close of play. "We kept fighting and never gave up. The whole team is great, it’s so positive," explained skipper John Kostecki.
Once in the lead, they continued their spirited charge to The Tavern of the Seas, taking every mile on offer on their way to claiming the inaugural leg victory, "It was one of those situations where the rich get richer. The boat was on fire," added co-navigator Ian Moore.
"The other guys managed to sail extremely well, I'm sure they would also admit they had a little bit of luck. But as soon as things equalized we just managed to make some small gains, and pass them by," continued Kostecki.
With illbruck and Amer Sports One tucked up in Cape Town, the story of the first leg now revolves around the six reindexing yachts at sea.
This afternoon, Team News Corp is power reaching through the final 100 plus miles towards the shelter of Cape Town. Jez Fanstone’s crew look in good shape to claim third place as Tyco, some 225 miles astern, pose little threat.
At their present speed, the News Corporation Volvo Ocean 60 is due cross the finish line in table Bay at 20.20 hours GMT (22.20 hours local time) and pick up a welcome six points for her leg one achievement.

Southampton, England, October 25th, 2001 10.00hrs GMT
News Corp Press On For Third
Team News Corp is power reaching across the final 140 miles of the south Atlantic towards the shelter of Cape Town this morning. Jez Fanstone’s crew look in good shape to claim third place for leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race as Tyco, some 225 miles astern, pose little threat.
The breeze has now increased to a steady 35 knots from the south east, making for a wet express ride into South Africa.
At their present speed, the News Corporation Volvo Ocean 60 is due cross the finish line in table Bay at 20.20 hours GMT (22.20 hours local time) and pick up a healthy six points for her leg one achievement.

FINISHED:
Illbruck: 31d 06h 19m 49s
Amer Sports One: 31d 08h 20m 56s
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 33, 10.00hrs GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL ROC ETA PO
1 ILBK 33 54.06S 018 25.97E 0 000 00.0 000 0 00.0 24 OCT 01 8
2 AONE 33 54.06S 018 25.97E 0 000 00.0 000 0 00.0 24 OCT 01 7
3 NEWS 34 34.96S 015 47.04E 139 073 10.2 297 0 00.0 25 OCT 01 6
4 TYCO 35 26.68S 011 18.12E 365 092 10.4 256 226 -00.3 26 OCT 01 5
5 AART 34 12.08S 006 42.84E 584 092 09.5 241 445 -01.0 27 OCT 01 4
6 TSEB 28 32.60S 003 19.44W 1161 162 09.6 222 1022 -04.4 30 OCT 01 3
7 DJCE 29 02.00S 003 53.56W 1178 163 09.8 221 1039 -04.4 30 OCT 01 2
8 ATOO 29 44.20S 006 08.92W 1276 161 09.4 228 1137 -04.7 31 OCT 01 1

Pressemitteilung der illbruck Challenge
25. Oktober 2001
Fast genau zwei Stunden vor „Amer Sports One“ im Ziel / Überglückliches Team
Kapstadt – Skipper John Kostecki riss die Arme hoch, der Hamburger Vorschiffsmann Tony Kolb stieß einen Jubelschrei aus: Exakt um 22.19 Uhr und 49 Sekunden am späten Mittwoch Abend hatte „illbruck“ die erste Etappe des Volvo Ocean Race Round the World 2001-2002 gewonnen. Nach rund 32 Tagen von Southampton in England über 7.350 Seemeilen nach Kapstadt in Südafrika war die Leverkusener Hochseeyacht im Ziel, und ihre zwölfköpfige Crew schrieb Geschichte im Segelsport. Noch nie zuvor hat eine deutsche Yacht bei der härtesten Regatta der Welt eine Etappe gewonnen. Zweiter wurde die „Amer Sports One“ (Finnland/Italien) unter Skipper Grant Dalton, die fast auf die Minute genau zwei Stunden später ins Ziel kam.
„Das ist fantastisch, ja unglaublich. Ich bin völlig aus dem Häuschen“, meinte Firmenchef und Chairman des Syndikats illbruck Challenge, Michael Illbruck (41) nach der Ankunft im Hafen. „Das ist die optimale Motivation für die kommenden schweren Aufgaben, denn es sind noch acht von neun Etappen zu segeln.“ Allerdings sei der Erfolg auch ein Lohn der langen Vorbereitungszeit von fast vier Jahren. Das hatte zum Schluss der Etappe den Ausschlag gegeben, als der Gegner schlicht einen halben bis einen Knoten langsamer war, weil die „Amer Sports One“-Crew zwei kaputte Segel zu verkraften hatte und das Boot insgesamt nicht so hart am Speedlimit segeln konnte. So schmolz der auf bis zu 40 Seemeilen angewachsene Vorsprung stündlich, bis sich die „illbruck“ schließlich Montag Nacht vorbeischob.
Das deutsche Boot verschenkte zu keinem Zeitpunkt auch nur einen Meter. Bei stürmischen Böen des sogenannten Cape Doctors, dem typischen Sommerwind in Kapstadt aus Südosten, waren alle Mann an Deck und trimmten ihr Boot bis an die Grenze von Mensch und Material. Mit dem Sieg hat die „illbruck“ in der Punktwertung des Volvo Ocean Race acht Zähler eingefahren. Sieben gehen an die „Amer Sports One“. Die drittplazierte „News Corp“ aus Australien wird am Donnerstag Abend erwartet. Alle weiteren Yachten in den folgenden Tagen bis zu einer Woche später.
Mehrere hundert Zuschauer hatten neben den Familien, Freunden und Fans im Hafen der Victoria & Alfred Wharf von Kapstadt ausgeharrt, bis die grün-weiße Rennyacht mitten in der Nacht endlich anlegte. Erst gab es die Kristallglastrophäe aus den Händen von Helge Alten, dem Leiter des Volvo Ocean Race; dann fielen die Mütter mit Kindern den Familienvätern und alle Pärchen um den Hals, die sich länger als einen Monat nicht gesehen hatten. Schon am Steg gab es Pizza und Hamburger – und natürlich eisgekühltes Bier, auf das sich viele am meisten gefreut hatten. „Wir hatten genug zu essen“, berichtete Tony Kolb, „aber etwas Gegrilltes ist nach mehr als vier Wochen etwas ganz anderes als die gefriergetrockneten Mahlzeiten an Bord.“ ...biss in den zweiten Hamburger und war rundum zufrieden. „Ich könnte gleich auf die zweite Etappe gehen“, so der 25-Jährige.

„Die Stimmung in der Crew und der Zusammenhalt waren unsere Stärke“, analysierte John Kostecki die Gründe für den Erfolg. „Die Technik allein macht noch keinen Staat, das Team muss funktionieren; nur dann kann so eine Etappe gewonnen werden.“ Der letzte Tag auf See sei der härteste gewesen, denn der Wind nahm ständig zu. In Böen erreichte er 37 Knoten, Windstärke acht. Mit der kleinen Genua 4 als Vorsegel und einem Reff im Großsegel fuhr die „illbruck“ zwischen 13 und 15 Knoten (mehr als 25 km/h) im Durchschnitt.
Das war schon ein kleiner Vorgeschmack auf das, was der Crew ab dem 11. November bevorsteht. Dann nämlich beginnt die zweite und vielleicht härteste Etappe des Volvo Ocean Race. Sie geht über 6.550 Seemeilen von Kapstadt nach Sydney in Australien und führt die Crew durch die Stürme der „Brüllenden Vierziger“ (Roaring Fourties) des Southern Ocean. Dort erreichen die Yachten ihre Höchstgeschwindigkeit von deutlich mehr als 30 Knoten und häufig ein Etmal (24-Stunden-Distanz) von mehr als 400 Seemeilen (bis zum 800 km).
Doch bis dahin werden die Mannschaften zunächst ausspannen, ausschlafen und regenerieren. „Die Jungs sind gut durch die Etappe gekommen, haben im Durchschnitt nur fünf Kilogramm Gewicht verloren“, so illbruck Challenge-Fitnesstrainer Sven Riedesel aus Wermelskirchen. Das sei vergleichsweise wenig, und da nur Körperfett und kaum Muskelmasse verloren gegangen sei, dürften alle bis zum Re-Start wieder fit sein. Das könnte ein großes Manko der weit zurückliegenden Boote werden, denn diese haben kaum noch etwas zu essen an Bord und noch mehr als 1.200 Seemeilen gegen den Wind zu segeln. Das ist Hochseesegeln über dem Limit ohne Erfolg.
Hinweis: Grenada Sport sendet einen 30-minütigen News-Feed von der Zielankunft am Donnerstag früh um 7 Uhr deutscher Zeit. Er ist für alle TV-Sender bis zu einer Nutzung von zwei Minuten frei und am BT Tower in London unter den Koordinaten SOV 65 Gateway 10a & b abzurufen.
Weitere Informationen und Fotos sowie Filmmaterial über:
Andreas Kling
0027/82/858-0016
(0172/2578817)
akling@illbruck-Challenge.com
http://media.illbruck-Challenge.de

Southampton, England, October 24, 2001
Arrival Interviews illbruck and Amer Sports One
ILLBRUCK:

Ian Moore - Navigator
"It was one of those situations where the rich get richer, we just clawed back our lead - mile after mile after mile. The boat was on fire."
"Nearing the finishing line, the wind was blowing dogs off chains, it was fantastic."
"We convinced ourselves we were gonna win, and then John came on deck yesterday morning and said "guys, there's a new leader". At that point we just dug in and it was great."

John Kostecki - Skipper
"The other guys managed to sail extremely well, I'm sure they would also admit they had a little bit of luck. But as soon as things equalised we just managed to make some small gains, and pass them by."
"We kept fighting and never gave up. The whole team is great, it’s so positive."
"I know Dalton's had a few breakages, the Southern Ocean is going to be interesting to watch."

AMER SPORTS ONE:
Grant Dalton - Skipper
"The fleet will go out of here at a huge pace."
"We were not disappointed to come second at all. We had no expectations for this leg at all, other than to just get a reasonable result with our programme being late. At no point did we feel any pressure, this is like the opening of the rugby season, we are happy with our position as long as we are in the final!"
"It wasn't a surprise to be beaten by illbruck, they are a class act. They have spent a lot of time and money on their campaign, so they were bound to get a result."
"We didn't luck out at the end, we just got blown out by a better campaign"
"A few decisions surprised me - the fleet was really tight for a while, you couldn't get a move on without everyone copying. Then everyone split up, but we weren't sure why they made those decisions as they weren't supported by climatology. The guys went with their hunches and unfortunately they were wrong."
"I'm going to see my daughter in a couple of days, as soon as possible." [His wife gave birth on Tuesday]
Roger Nilson - Navigator
"A very surprising performance from this team, we most surprised ourselves!"

"I think that the break we had at Trinidade was helped by the fact that although we have so much weather information, we didn't trust all of it and when in doubt - we went south! When the weather maps show different directions, and we doubted we just decided to go south."
"When the wind turned left we were the first to get our toes in the low pressure."
"illbruck was gunning us down, we felt like a toothless tiger, it was so frustrating. She was always a little bit faster than us, and that’s why she passed us - pure boat speed."
"First we have to rest, then we will try to find good solutions for the weather on the next leg."
"The race becomes easier the more times you do it, you get used to living in these conditions, it being impossible to make a cup of tea or go to toilet!"
Dee Smith
"We're not disappointed at all to have finished second, we think we're in great shape. We learnt so much, and there's so much more to work on."
Southampton, England, October 25th , 2001 04.00hrs GMT
Bart’s Boys Look Good For Third
With illbruck and Amer Sports One tucked up in Cape Town, the story of the first leg now revolves around the six reindexing yachts at sea, with Team News Corp looking safe to finish in third position this evening at around 19.00hrs GMT (21.00hrs local).
“The meter is ticking over,” said News’ navigator Ross Field yesterday. “We are still pushing hard for miles and using this time as valuable testing for sails, angles and crew training for the Southern Ocean [leg two]. It appears, cross fingers, that we have third place locked up which is satisfying”.
Conditions on the final 200 mile run into the finish seem to be keeping the crew of Team News Corp, which includes the famous Bart Simpson, on their toes. “It’s blowing 25-29 knots from the south east and fortunately we're tight reaching into Cape Town at 11-13 knots, but, it’s bloody uncomfortable,” reported Field just a few minutes ago. “It’s freezing cold on deck, spray everywhere and the boat is crashing off every second wave. The crew are sleeping on the wet sails below deck because you can't stay in your bunk”.
Tyco, 225 miles astern of Team News Corp, are likely to finish in fourth tomorrow.

Illbruck: 31d 06h 19m 49s
Amer Sports One: 31d 08h 20m 56s