08.03.2006
From: MOVISTAR QFB LEG FOUR DAY 18
Sent: 08 March 2006
Today it’s our turn to write something and its going to be a joint email
from Xabi Fernandez and Pepe Ribes so it is not so difficult.
Six days ago we were 200 miles from Cape Horn trying to catch ABN 1 and
getting away from Pirates, when the hull broke and we had maybe the most
anxious moments ever on movistar. The next day we were in the Beagle
Strait on our way to Ushuaia to urgently repair the hull and then go on to
Rio. A Chilean Navy tug boat escorted us in as well as two Argentinean
Naval ships. We got to Ushuaia at 3 in the morning, took the boat out of
the water and a team of Argentinean boat builders from the America’s Cup
came to help us out. After two and a half days of working 24 hours on the
boat, movistar was ready to go back in the water where it belongs 3am on
the 6th, having lost three days on the leaders.
The morning after we arrived, we awoke to find ourselves in the most
amazing surroundings, a channel surrounded by snow-capped mountains and a
city with a really special atmosphere. The city is full of scientists who
come and go from their various countries in special tug boats to their own
Antarctic base, adventurous people who have come to visit these incredible
mountains, and tourists who leave on yachts and cruise boats to visit the
Antarctic area; something we all thought would make the most amazing
holiday; down in the ice region, seeing the wildlife up close; seals,
killer whales and polar bears.
In the end we were all pretty confused since our real reasons for being
there were none other than those already mentioned: to repair the boat and
leave as soon as possible. One of the strangest things we found on arrival
was to hear Spanish spoken, and especially spoken with an accent from
Spain. The people in question were Javier Sanchez and his engine room
officer on the Spanish Naval tug boat there to assist the Spanish Base in
Antarctica. They came to offer us any possible assistance they could. We
eventually used their engine room for a couple of jobs that needed doing,
and in particular were given use of “crew member number 11”.
During the time we were in Ushuaia we had several visits to movistar from
some Spanish scientists who were the only people with the necessary passes
for the particular area of the port where we were working, and I really
must thank the real support we received from the Spanish people we met
there. They really understood that we only had our movistar sailing kit to
wear. They all showed their support in a huge number of different ways, so
many people we didn’t know wanted to have their picture taken with us,
encouraged us to keep going, and told us how they were following the
race.
We are writing this with the Falkland Islands to portside on our way to
Rio de Janeiro and it has become more of a transport task, since the keel
we are carrying has been blocked half way. The other teams have a huge
advantage on us and know full well we can’t catch them.
This is the quietest night we have had, with a westerly wind of around 12
knots which is a radical change from the previous night when a northerly
wind was blowing between 35 to 40 knots. We had three reefs on the index
and a storm jib.
In the true tradition of Spanish ocean sailors our “eleventh crew member”
is hidden in the stationary bulk head in the bow, and tomorrow we will
take him out. Nobody knows this yet but we hope they will appreciate it
since it has been given to us to lift our spirits and to give us an
injection of moral support well needed.
The first “tourist” who refers to it as bacon will not be given even a
slither!
Once again we want to thank the Commander and his crew from the Bio Las
Palmas for the fantastic cured Jabugo Ham and the bottle of Rioja which we
are going to open tomorrow as a surprise and a real pick-up for everyone,
especially our very own.
Tomorrow we will send pictures of the “tourists” on the boat being
surprised!
Xabi and Pepe on board Movistar send their best wishes to you all.
Tomorrow the photos.
For media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact:
Lizzie Green Press Officer at race headquarters:
Tel: +44 1489 554 832, Mob: +44 7801 185 320
Email: lizzie.green@volvooceanrace.org
Sophie Luther Press Assistant at race headquarters
Mob: +44 7956 285548 email: sophie.luther@volvooceanrace.org
|
