16.06.2006
From: ABN AMRO ONE QFB LEG NINE DAY 2
Sent: 16 June 2006 11:15
We always knew that the Rotterdam stop-over would be big for us, Home
port, in our home country, it was going to be busy. The reality is though,
that it far out weighed our expectation. The amount of public support and
enthusiasm for the Volvo Ocean Race was huge. Whenever we went anywhere
with the boats there where hundreds of spectator boats, and there was a
constant crowd at the race village which then rose too football stadium
numbers for arrivals and departures.. very, very cool. Thank you
Rotterdam and the Netherlands for a wonderful time, just such a shame that
it was not for a bit longer, it all seemed to come and go very quickly.
The stopover went well for us from a race standpoint on ABN AMRO 1 as
well. Second for the leg after a record slow trip from Portsmouth, was a
result that we where very happy with and maybe the biggest surprise of any
of the podium finishes so far in the race. But the most exciting day was
the day that we won the in-port race, even though it was the afternoon of
the Dutch's first game of the Soccer world Cup. There where hundreds of
boats out on the water and people lining the shore all the way up and down
the 20 mile strip of the river.
We led from start to finish in conditions that where well under our
optimum so it was a very satisfying result, and a great treat to give to
our home crowd.
This leg hasn't been going so well. We were a little over anxious to get
a good start and were over the line apparently when the gun went, so had
to go back which cost us a few minutes. But then all day yesterday the
boat just didn't feel itself, the conditions should have been great for
us, normally w are just a bullet in a good 13 to 15 knot beat, we now know
why though, since it's final inspection in the water we must have picked
up or hit something in the water which has knocked off the fairing between
the steel and the carbon part of our keel, it's not structural and we have
no risk of it causing any more damage, but it is for sure slowing us down,
what a huge relief that we don't need a result in this leg to still win
overall, with the conditions so flukey and going against the forecast
there must be some stressed people out here.
ABN AMRO 2 is currently leading Ericsson so if they finish there then "The
Kids" will indextain there 4th spot and even more dramatic is that the
Brasil 1 is 1st and the Pirates are 5th!!. If they were to finish like
this I believe that Brasil 1 would take 2nd spot off the Pirates. So for
us now with our wounds it is all about getting to Sweden as quickly as
possible so we can celebrate with as many of you as possible the winning
of this version of the Volvo Ocean Race. Don't get me wrong, we will do
everything we can to get there first as well, but that ask I am guessing
is probably a little too big since we have literally got one of our wing's
clipped.
I will write again tomorrow to say some goodbye's, but for now it's back
to staring at the B&G Instruments to see if I can convince the wind to
shift left so that our side of the course pays...
Talk soon
Cheers
Mike Sanderson - skipper
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
|
