Itajaí was gearing up for a thrilling finale to one of the most closely contested Southern Ocean/south Atlantic legs in the 41-year history of the Volvo Ocean Race with four boats still in with a chance of an epic victory on Sunday evening (see full story below).

– Four make it a fight to the finish on Sunday

– Team SCA battle on despite sail damage

– Dongfeng Race Team in own race against time

– Why does Brazil love the event so much? (see below)

ITAJAÍ, Brazil, April 4 – Itajaí was gearing up for a thrilling finale to one of the most closely contested Southern Ocean/south Atlantic legs in the 41-year history of the Volvo Ocean Race with four boats still in with a chance of an epic victory on Sunday evening.

The south-eastern Brazilian port is already a major centre of race fans following the last visit in 2011-12 when tens of thousands turned out to greet the boats into their harbour.

Sunday’s climax to three weeks and 6,776 nautical miles (nm) of classic, rough ocean racing could well surpass that, with excitement in the city at fever pitch already.

In 2012, PUMA were clear winners; this time it promises to be a four-way sprint all the way to the finish.

At 0940 UTC on Saturday, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR) still had their noses just in front, but an incredibly tight 6.5nm separated them from fourth-placed boat Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED) with MAPFRE (Iker Martínez/ESP) and Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA) sandwiched in between (see panel above).

The leg, from Auckland, has once again lived up to its notorious reputation as a real boat-breaker.

Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) were forced to retire from the stage midweek after breaking their mast on Monday.

They are currently making their way to Itajaí, under sail and motor, in their own race against time to refit a new mast ready for Leg 6 to Newport, Rhode Island, on April 19.

They join Team Vestas Wind (Chris Nicholson/AUS) as temporarily out of the race with the Danish boat currently undergoing a rebuild at the Persico boatyard in Bergamo, Italy, with the aim of returning to action for Legs 8 and 9 in June.

At the back of the racing fleet, Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) continue to battle on doggedly following damage to three sails, but higher pressure for them cut dozens of nautical miles off their deficit and at 0940 UTC, they trailed by around 585nm.

Team Brunel, meanwhile, added to the growing list of repairs needed in Itajaí when their key J1 sail ripped for the second time overnight.

Louis Balcaen (BEL) conceded: “This is a downer: We were doing so well; we really, really came back. And now we will miss the main sail! Acid! But we’ll find something else!”

The leading boats are expected to arrive in Itajaí from 1900-2100 UTC on Sunday with tough conditions continuing to the last (see latest Watch Log).

They have one more major tack to take, midway through Saturday, before reaching Brazil. Team SCA are expected to complete the most testing of all nine legs a little over 24 hours later.

Victory would give Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing a seven-point lead at the top of the standings, but with four legs to go of the 38,739nm marathon there’s still all to sail for before offshore sailing’s leading challenge finishes on June 27 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

via Itajaí at fever pitch| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

Why is Brazil  in love with the Volvo Ocean Race?

It’s been on the Volvo Ocean Race’s map since the beginning. The country has hosted eight stopovers since the first edition in 1973-74.

1973-74 – Rio de Janeiro

1977-78 – Rio de Janeiro

1997-98 – São Sebastião

2001-02 – Rio de Janeiro

2005-06 – Rio de Janeiro

2008-09 – Rio de Janeiro

2011-12 – Itajaí

2014-15 – Itajaí

Brazilian sailors have always been part of it, too. Nine of them have entered the race.

John Anderson

1977-78, Flyer

Lucas Brun

2005-06, ABN AMRO TWO

Horacio Carabelli – the Brazilian sailed the race twice before moving to the shore side

2005-06, Brasil 1

2008-09, Ericsson 4

Marceloo Ferreira

2005-06, Brasil 1

Andre Fonseca – Bochecha is our one and only Brazilian sailor this time around. He’s part of the Spanish team MAPFRE

2005-06, Brasil 1

2008-09, Delta Lloyd

2014-15, MAPFRE

Torben Grael – one of the most famous Brazilian sailors and a race winner six years ago

1997-98, Innovation Kvaerner

2005-06, Brasil 1

2008-09, Ericsson 4

Henrique Pellicano

2005-06 Brasil 1

Fernando Peres

1981-82, La Barca Laboratorio

Joao Signorini – a three-time race veteran now coach for Team SCA

2005-06, Brasil 1

2008-09, Ericsson 4

2011-12, Telefónica

They had their own Volvo Ocean Race team. Skippered by Torben Grael, Brasil 1 finished third of the 2005-06 edition. Race CEO Knut Frostad was onboard at the time. The only Brazilian team to ever compete in the race, Brasil 1 will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Itajaí.

They’ve got their own sailing legend. Torben Grael won five Olympics medals, six World Championships, the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000 AND the Volvo Ocean Race in 2008-09 with Ericsson 4.

His brother Lars Grael is an Olympic medalist too, and he kept sailing at a high level despite losing a leg in a boating accident.

With Kahena Kunze, his daughter Martine Grael is one of the Olympic favourites in the 49er FX class for Rio 2016. Later on, Martine would love to join the race with an all-female team.

They’ve got TWO sailing legends. Robert Scheidt is world famous for his Olympic success. He’s got five Olympic medals and was crowned 13 times as a World Champion in the Star and Laser classes.

Brazil is big in Olympic sailing. Over the years, Olympic sailors have won 17 medals for Brazil – only judo got more with 19 medals! And the next Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro, though the class they’re most successful in, the Star, is now out.

Made in Brazil. The C30 is the only boat 100% made in Brazil. The ‘C’ stands for the Volvo sailor Carabelli. Bochecha, currently on MAPFRE, is also an advisor for this class.

Offshore races are more popular than you think. The sailing weeks of Ilhabela, Santa Catarina and Búzios are among the most famous. Itajaí is getting there, too. The Recife – Noronha and Buenos Aires – Rio are classics.

And that shows in the footfall in Itajaí. 282,000 visitors came to the race village in 2012 – over a quarter of a million. 28,372 people cheered for the In-Port Race, and 25,000 waved the sailors good-bye on the day of Leg 6 start.

Joao Signorini (see sailors above), the only Brazilian in the 2011-12 race, was given a memory he’ll never forget as thousands cheered him home onboard Telefónica.

Bochecha is coming home. MAPFRE’s André Fonseca is from Florianopolis, a city just 100 km south of Itajaí. A talented helmsman, he’s expected to arrive on Sunday, April 5 with the rest of the front pack.

via Itajaí at fever pitch| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

The enthralling, absorbing Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race will come to a climax on Sunday when any one of four boats could claim victory in Itajaí after three weeks and 6,776 nautical miles (nm) full of thrills and spills (full story below).

– Four pace-setters all in with chance of epic Leg 5 victory

– Lead changes three times overnight in high winds

– Team SCA battle on at back of the fleet

ALICANTE, Spain, April 3 – The enthralling, absorbing Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race will come to a climax on Sunday when any one of four boats could claim victory in Itajaí after three weeks and 6,776 nautical miles (nm) full of thrills and spills.

The stage has more than lived up to its long-standing reputation as the roughest and toughest of the entire nine-month marathon and a real boat-breaker.

It has seen the retirement of Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) following a mast breakage early on Monday, shortly before the crew was due to round Cape Horn, and at least three episodes when boats crashed to their sides in Chinese gybes.

Much more surprisingly, has been the incredibly tight racing at the head of the fleet and by 0940 UTC on Friday, it was still far too close to call with under 575nm to go.

Overnight, there were no less than three lead changes with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR) emerging in front after both Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA) and MAPFRE (Iker Martínez/ESP) had briefly taken over at the head of the fleet (see panel above).

Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED) were by no means out of contention, either, just 17.3nm behind the leaders.

Behind them, Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) were doggedly ploughing through the south Atlantic, just over 700nm behind the leading pack with 1,277nm left to the finish in Itajaí (0940 UTC).

“It’s like being in a washing machine,” said Onboard Reporter, Anna-Lena Elled (SWE).

Victory would put Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in a strong position after joint leaders, Dongfeng Race Team, were forced to abandon the leg and continue under motor and sail to Itajaí for a new mast fit.

But the overall race would be very far from over and, in any case, MAPFRE, winners of Leg 4, were clearly in no mood to concede a metre to their Emirati rivals.

“We have spent a crazy night, I hope the last like it in this leg,” wrote skipper Iker Martínez in a blog from his boat on Friday.

“The wind increased and veered so much that we ended up sailing at 20 knots against the waves, bouncing around.

“It seemed that everything was going to break. A porthole flew off the boat and the only safe place was the bunk, squeezed against the hull because otherwise, as the boat jumped, you could be thrown anywhere.

“We would have liked to get more miles out of the situation, but it has not been easy to steer.

“The bowmen could have been washed overboard any time so we’ve been forced to put safety first. This is the third time it’s been like this since the leg started, yet we’ve not had these kind of conditions before that since we’d left Alicante.”

He now expects a real sprint to the finish into south-east Brazil.

“The dice has rolled. Now it’s down to a high-speed race for the last few miles, while we wait for the wind to veer starboard (right) again.”

The leading four are expected to finish on Sunday afternoon/evening according to the latest estimates from Race Control.

via A sprint to the finish| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) were savouring a rare, poignant moment on Thursday after they had rounded Cape Horn in the brutal Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race to make a special tribute to their beloved coach, Magnus Olsson (full story below).

– Team SCA tribute to beloved coach

– But more trouble awaits crew in south Atlantic

– Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing hold slender Leg 5 lead

ALICANTE, Spain, April 2 – Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) were savouring a rare, poignant moment on Thursday after they had rounded Cape Horn in the brutal Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race to make a special tribute to their beloved coach, Magnus Olsson.

The Swede was one of most popular – and skilful – sailors ever to compete in the 41-year race and it was no surprise when SCA recruited him to train the first all-women’s crew in 12 years to contest offshore sailing’s toughest challenge.

Tragically, however, Olsson, 64, did not live to see his team set off for their nine-month adventure in Alicante on October 11. ‘Mange’, as he was universally known, who competed in six Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Races, died in April 2013 after suffering a stroke.

The life and sporting lessons he passed on to Team SCA, however, have not been forgotten and on Wednesday, the crew found the perfect spot at Cape Horn to say ‘thanks’.

Finally reaching the fabled point between the Southern Ocean and south Atlantic after battling through potentially boat-breaking conditions, a special ceremony was observed.

Team SCA’s Onboard Reporter, Anna-Lena Elled, recalled on Thursday: “It was a beautiful sight, the pretty wild sea and the South American cliffs shooting up from the water.

“We also had our very special moment dropping a wreath for Mange Olsson in the water. It was powerful.”

The women were carrying a eucalyptus wreath that was made in Auckland, the previous race stopover. The wreath had the 200+ messages that were left by family and friends at Olsson’s memorial service in July 2013 attached.

It was not long, however, before the women were back in the thick of hugely challenging conditions in the south Atlantic, having briefly crashed to their side in a so-called Chinese gybe, the week before.

Elled explained: “The Atlantic gave us a pretty warm welcome. Initially on the wind, but once we turned the corner and pointed towards the Maire Straits we were expecting a building breeze of up to 35 knots, but it tunneled through and increased and we saw 50 knots.

“We were dead downwind in big seas going through a relatively narrow gap. We had a pretty hairy gybe in 45 knots and in that process we damaged our J3 sail as it was full on.”

Team SCA have been very unfortunate in experiencing probably the worst conditions of any of the boats in the fleet on the toughest leg of the race. They had earlier ripped their fractional code zero sail during the Chinese gybe, putting that out of action, and their storm jib has also suffered damage.

At 0940 UTC, they trailed the rest of the racing fleet by just under 750 nautical miles (nm). Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR) led the stage and overall, but were just 0.5nm clear of Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA).

MAPFRE (Iker Martínez/ESP) were 11.5nm behind the Turkish/American team and Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED), 11.4nm further adrift (see panel). That main leading pack of four now have less than 1,000nm left of the 6,776nm stage from Auckland to Itajaí.

They are expected to arrive on Sunday (April 5) with Team SCA likely to finish several days later.

Meanwhile, two teams aiming to win races against time to return to the event – Team Vestas Wind (Chris Nicholson/AUS) and Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) – have been busy on their separate projects.

The Chinese-backed Dongfeng Race Team expected to leave Ushuaia, Argentina, later on Thursday, having sought refuge there following a mast-break early on Monday approaching Cape Horn.

They will travel under sail and motor to Itajaí, aiming to have a new mast fitted in time for the Leg 6 departure to Newport, Rhode Island on April 19.

Meantime, Team Vestas Wind report solid progress in the rebuild of the Vestas Wind following its collision with an Indian Ocean reef on November 29 in Leg 2.

After two months’ hard work at the Persico yard in Bergamo, Italy, the hull and deck have now been joined together.

Their hugely challenging target is to return to the race for the final two legs from Lisbon in early June.

via Mange remembered at the Horn| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR) continued to power towards Itajaí at the head of the fleet on Wednesday with the possibility of extending their overall Volvo Ocean Race lead tantalisingly within their reach.

– Dongfeng Race Team begin race against clock for repair

– Battling Team SCA rounding Cape Horn

– Reaction from last night’s Dongfeng Leg 5 retirement

ALICANTE, Spain, April 1 – Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR) continued to power towards Itajaí at the head of the fleet on Wednesday with the possibility of extending their overall Volvo Ocean Race lead tantalisingly within their reach.

Walker said pre-race that consistent podium finishes could well be enough to win the event given the potential for major problems all the boats face.

That strategy looked better than ever early on Wednesday after the news late the night before that his closest rivals, Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA), were being forced to abandon Leg 5 after suffering a broken mast.

There is still a long way to go until Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing themselves are safely in port in south-eastern Brazil, but the eight points that the Chinese boat will receive for not finishing the 6,776-nautical mile stage is a major setback to their title hopes.

Victory in Itajaí would open up a seven-point lead for the Emirati crew over Dongfeng Race Team.

At 0940 UTC on Wednesday, Azzam led Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA) by 9.2nm with MAPFRE (Iker Martínez/ESP) and Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED) still very much in contention, trailing by 23.9nm and 37.7nm respectively.

Meantime, Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) were approaching Cape Horn around 1200 UTC after trailing the fleet following a series of setbacks including a Chinese gybe which damaged their key fractional code zero sail.

It has been a long journey from Auckland and navigator Libby Greenhalgh (GBR) summed up: “Challenging is definitely a word I would use to describe this leg and in many different ways not just because of circumstance and venue.

“I sit at the Nav station with a quote from our dearly missed (coach) Magnus Olsson as we approach one of his favourite places and gradually understand what he meant.

“’I have a love hate relationship with the Southern Ocean. You love it because it’s so thrilling but at the same time you have an enormous respect for it – you have to, otherwise you wouldn’t survive’.”

These are words that the luckless Caudrelier would certainly echo as he made plans for the quickest departure possible, under motor, to Itajaí from Ushuaia, Argentina, where their stricken boat is currently based.

“If we want to be ready, we have to leave Ushuaia as soon as possible, go straight to Itajaí, use the engine and the small sails we can use. It’s a challenge against time. We need to be there one week before the start of Leg 6 to be ready to start.

“We are 2000 miles from Itajaí. We need, for me, 10 to 12 days. We are running out of time.”

He explained his decision to quit the leg rather than try to complete it.

“If we decided to finish Leg 5 we would be last for sure, so we would have received six points. By retiring, we received eight points. It’s only two points difference but that’s quite big when you think about the overall ranking.

“But if we did that we are not sure to be ready for the next leg and we’ll lose another seven or eight points if we don’t do the next leg. We need to focus 100% on performance in the next leg, and this is our goal.”

The first four of the remaining racing fleet is expected to arrive in Itajaí around April 5-6 with Team SCA completing this most gruelling stage two or three days later.

via Azzam goes storming on| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) announced late on Tuesday that they plan to retire from Leg 5 after breaking their mast in the Southern Ocean (full story below).

– Dongfeng Race Team decide to motor – not sail – to Itajaí

– Chinese joint leaders to pick up eight points for Did Not Finish in Leg 5

ALICANTE, Spain, March 31 – Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) announced late on Tuesday that they plan to retire from Leg 5 after breaking their mast in the Southern Ocean.

Caudrelier had considered attempting to re-join the 6,776-nautical mile stage from Auckland to Itajaí after successfully nursing Dongfeng to Ushuaia, Argentina, earlier in the day.

But on Tuesday night, a statement from the team read: “The decision has been made to motor-sail to Itajaí and not rejoin the race – although skipper Caudrelier has yet to officially retire from the leg at this time, it is just a matter of protocol now.

“He will not relish this part of the administrative process and if there had been any other timely and effective way to rejoin the race and get to Brazil, he would have undoubtedly taken it.

“But even under motor-sail the delivery trip is expected to take around 10-12 days and then add the days needed to refit the boat in time for the start of Leg 6 to Newport.

“Trying to rejoin the race which would mean returning to the point they started using the engine at the western entrance of the (Beagle) Channel then sail south around Cape Horn would prove to be too risky, especially with rig and sails not fully fit for racing.

“It wasn’t safe to enter the Beagle Channel without the engine, even if it would have left more options for a racing departure.”

By motoring to Itajaí, they will buy some time to make the repairs ready to start Leg 6 to Newport – although it will still be tight. The fleet is due to depart on April 19.

Dongfeng Race Team plan to leave Ushuaia for Itajaí on Wednesday evening.

At 0315 on Monday, a sickening crack had signaled to Caudrelier and his crew that the top section of the mast had fractured, leaving the boat without full manoueverability.

The decision means that Dongfeng Race Team, who were joint leaders with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR) at the start of the leg, will collect eight points for a Did Not Finish result.

In the latest position report at 1840 UTC on Tuesday, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing led by 8.8nm from Cape Horn pace-setters, Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA)

via Time to call quits| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

Dongfeng Race Team, the joint leaders of the Volvo Ocean Race (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) who broke their mast a day ago, eased their stricken boat to dry land and safety on Tuesday (full story below).

– Dongfeng is nursed to Argentine port

– Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing snatch lead

– Team SCA battle on towards Cape Horn

ALICANTE, Spain, March 31– Dongfeng Race Team, the joint leaders of the Volvo Ocean Race (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) who broke their mast a day ago, eased their stricken boat to dry land and safety on Tuesday.

The breakage could hardly have happened at a worse place in the race for the Chinese team, some 250 nautical miles away from Cape Horn in the midst of the treacherous Southern Ocean and in high winds on Leg 5.

However, as Caudrelier pointed out, at least they were relatively near the South American coastline.

The damage has robbed the 65-foot (20 metres) boat of much of its manoeuvrability and Kevin Escoffier (FRA) was forced to cut off one of the sails, the fractional code zero or ‘FRO’, to avoid it doing more damage to the 100-foot high (30 metres) mast. He also cut away the top part of the mast.

Caudrelier said: “After four extraordinary legs for our team, we’ve taken our first major punch. A very big one.”

He must now decide whether to try to carry out repairs with possibly a new mast in Ushuaia, Argentina, which they reached around 1115 GMT on Tuesday, and attempt to re-join the leg following their suspension from racing in the entrance to the Beagle Channel.

Alternatively, they could quit the 6,770-nautical mile (nm) stage and then transport the boat to the next stopover, Itajaí in Brazil, for a full mast re-fit and checkover in time for the next leg to Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. That leg starts on April 19.

The incident deprived Dongfeng’s crew of Chinese rookies the opportunity to round the fabled Cape Horn landmark for the first time in their sailing careers.

The four leading boats, however, did savour that rite of passage on Monday afternoon and by 0940 GMT on Tuesday, had progressed some 300nm towards Itajaí in the south Atlantic having passed the Falkland Islands.

At that stage, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, who held the overall lead with Dongfeng prior to the Leg 5 start, protected a narrow 2.8nm advantage over Turkish/American entrants, Team Alvimedica, having overtaken them since rounding the Horn.

MAPFRE (Iker Martínez/ESP) and Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED) were 15nm and 22nm further adrift respectively.

Meanwhile, the all-women’s crew of Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) still had some 300nm to sail before rounding the Horn. They have been beset by ill-luck on the toughest leg in the nine-month race.

Last week, their boat crashed on its side during a so-called Chinese gybe, and on Monday night, the crew were forced to sail in pitch black after their electronic system failed.

The latter problem has now been fixed, but Sam Davies’ crew are still having to battle on without the use of a key sail, also the ‘FRO’, which was damaged by last week’s crash.

The fleet is expected to arrive in Itajaí between April 5 and 6. In all, the boats will sail 38,739nm and visit 11 ports and every continent. The race concludes in Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 27.

via ‘Our first major punch’| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

SOUTH WEST: Devon sailor Sam Matson has secured sponsorship from Chatham for the 2015 season for his Solitaire du Figaro campaign, writes Katina Read.

Having trained with the Artemis Offshore Academy for the past three years, Mr Matson achieved 15th place overall and second Rookie in his first Solitaire du Figaro in 2014 and is now working towards this year’s event which starts May 31.

In addition to title sponsorship from Chatham, Mr Matson will continue to be supported by the Artemis Offshore Academy.

“I am absolutely ecstatic to have Chatham aboard for my 2015 Class Figaro Beneteau season,” he said. “Like Artemis, Chatham is a truly great British company and I look forward to promoting their brand on the world’s stage for premier solo offshore racing.”

Philip Marsh, Chatham MD, added: “It’s the first time we’ve sponsored an individual sailor. It’s a perfect fit for us as we’re based in Exeter and Sam is in Exmouth; France is a large market for us.”

via Boating Business – Chatham sponsors.

Four boats in the Volvo Ocean Race celebrated rounding the venerated landmark of Cape Horn on Monday, a pleasure cruelly denied Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) after the Chinese boat’s mast was broken early in a dramatic day on Leg 5 (full story below).

– Team Alvimedica has honour of passing key landmark first

– Dongfeng Race Team halted in tracks after breaking mast

– See the dramatic moment when the Chinese boat’s mast snaps

ALICANTE, Spain, March 30 – Four boats in the Volvo Ocean Race celebrated rounding the venerated landmark of Cape Horn on Monday, a pleasure cruelly denied Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) after the Chinese boat’s mast was broken early in a dramatic day on Leg 5.

Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA) had the considerable honour of leading the battered fleet past the fabled point at 1407 GMT, just 15 minutes clear of overall race leaders Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR).

MAPFRE (Iker Martínez/ESP) and Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED) were hot on their heels as the fleet prepared to head north at last and back in to the Atlantic for the first time since November.

They still have quite a challenge in store, navigating up the Brazilian coast towards the final Leg 5 destination of Itajaí, which they will reach after 6,770 nautical miles (nm) of the most testing sailing in the nine-month offshore marathon around April 5-6.

For Team Alvimedica’s 30-year-old skipper Enright, it was the culmination of an eight-year dream, which first took shape on the film set of Disney movie, Morning Light, when he hatched the idea of entering a team in sailing’s leading challenge.

There are no points on offer for leading the Volvo Ocean Race fleet around Cape Horn, but so much kudos.

“For me, most of this race is about competition, but this leg is a little bit different. This is pretty special for us,” said Enright of Bristol, Rhode Island, by far the youngest skipper in the fleet.

But this was no time for lengthy celebrations.

“We can see Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing behind. The match racing continues. Keep the focus!”

Walker, who has so far carried out his pre-race battle plan of earning podium places on every leg, was equally buoyant.

“I’m just happy to get here safely. That’s the main thing. There is still a long way to go, but it’s a big relief. And it’s an even bigger relief because we’re in good shape,” he said.

The Emirati boat had just set the fastest 24 hours’ sailing in the race, travelling 551nm. That is the third fastest ever recorded in the 41-year-old race behind ABN AMRO TWO (2006 – 562.96nm) and Ericsson 4 (2008 – 596.6nm).

For Dongfeng Race Team, who had started Leg 5 locked on eight points (lowest overall wins) it was a case of ‘what might have been’ as well as ‘what next?’.

At 0315 UTC, the crew were startled by a sickening crack that sent all of them scrambling to deck to check out the damage. The boat’s mast had broken above the third spreader, which robbed it of much of its manoeuvrability.

The plan is now to nurse Dongfeng to Ushuaia, Argentina, under sail.

Reached via Inmarsat, a bitterly disappointed Caudrelier said: “I’m gutted. As you’ve seen from the position reports we have been, on purpose, backing off a bit, not attacking in any way.

“The mast broke without warning in about 30 knots of wind. We are unable to sail safely on starboard tack, but we are able to make reasonable speed on port tack. We will head towards Ushuaia and assess our options for getting to Itajaí.”

He could retire from the leg, but if a patched-up boat can be returned to the Leg 5 track and complete the stage to Itajaí, Caudrelier will earn an extra two points – six for sixth and last place instead of eight for not finishing at all.

That could make all the difference come the end of the 38,739nm race in Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 27, especially with Dongfeng Race Team currently so close to the lead.

Meanwhile, Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) were continuing to battle their way through heinous conditions in the Southern Ocean, some 550nm behind the pack still racing.

They have been considerably hampered by damage to their fractional code zero sail after a Chinese gybe last week sent the boat crashing on its side.

Davies’s crew are expected to round Cape Horn in the early hours (GMT) on Wednesday.

“We can’t take any more risk with the sails that are left because we need them on the way from Cape Horn to Itajaí,” she said.

Caudrelier will understand her caution. Completely.

via Drama – and delight – round the Horn| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

ALICANTE, Spain, March 30 – Volvo Ocean Race organisers today (Monday) announced an exciting new partnership with the Genoa Boat Show giving fans the opportunity to see close up the boats currently in action in the middle of the Southern Ocean (full story below).

ALICANTE, Spain, March 30 – Volvo Ocean Race organisers today (Monday) announced an exciting new partnership with the Genoa Boat Show giving fans the opportunity to see close up the boats currently in action in the middle of the Southern Ocean.

The Genoa Show is scheduled for September 30-October 5 and teams from the 12th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race have been invited to show off their Volvo Ocean 65, one-design boats, fresh from the event finish on June 27 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Tom Touber, Race COO, said the opportunity was too good to miss on both sides.

“We know we have many, many fans of the race in Italy and we didn’t need to be asked twice when organisers of the Genoa Boat Show approached us to make this happen,” he said.

“We are well aware of the huge interest in our race in the sailing-loving nation of Italy. It’s the perfect match.”

He explained the concept.

“We envisage a ‘Volvo Ocean Race reunion with a mini Volvo Ocean Race Village’ in Genoa.

“We will bring two of the most popular Race Village attractions – a show about a typical day in the life of a sailor competing in the Volvo Ocean Race and a full-sized model of one of our Volvo Ocean 65 boats so that the public can see what life is really like on board.

“All the teams have expressed their strong interest to take part in this reunion in Genoa.

“As their sponsors might have changing plans, we obviously cannot guarantee all seven boats from the 2014-15 race will be present, but both the race and Boat Show organisers are doing all they can to help them attend.

“This will be the first big opportunity for fans anywhere in the world to see boats from the 2014-15 fleet so soon after they have finished the nine-month race in Sweden.”

Antonio Vettese, of Ucina Confindustria Nautica Media Relations who work for the Genoa Boat Show, added: “We will have more than 1,000 boats on display but we don’t think any would be more popular than the Volvo Ocean 65s.

“They will take centre stage. It’s an extra bonus to have two of the most popular parts of the Volvo Ocean Race Village Experience for the fans to enjoy.

“We are all glued to the action in the Volvo Ocean Race – especially right now as the fleet rounds Cape Horn – and it’ll be a real treat to see those same boats close up at the end of September.”

via The Italian Job: Volvo Ocean Race and Genoa Boat Show join forces| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.