BLOG
Read moreMeanwhile, we’re all fighting for that one mile that is so hard to keep up and even harder to win
THE LAST PUSH
Only a few hours left until the arrival and the last night onboard MAPFRE. The truth is that an impressive finish is coming up.
Read moreThe results after 18 days of racing are coming, and it would be amazing to seal it on the podium.
A FANTASTIC END TO THE LEG
It is a fantastic end to the leg, being so close after this many miles. Everyone on board is very nervous, but in the end you get used to always living with the pressure.
Read moreLet’s see what happens, we are anxious to finish, it’s a tough leg, mainly because it’s been the first really rough one and we suffered under lack of training, but we are all safe and sound, and the boat is performing at 100% of her capacity.
IKER MARTÍNEZ: “WE ARE NOW ALMOST HEADING HOME”
We tacked and are on port tack now, the much expected shift finally kicked in and after the hight pressure we are now almost heading home.
Read moreI don’t think many boats have been able to truly sail today, as we were all in survival mode, trying not to break anything
50 KNOTS IS A LOT OF WIND
The last 48 hours along the Argentinian coast have been quite tough sailing-wise. I’d like to say I’m enjoying it, but I am not. I want this part of the offshore beatand the leg to end already. We’ve already gone through a lot in the Southern Ocean for the South Atlantic to be beating on us like this.
Read moreAt times we can see Alvimedica and also Brunel on the AIS. The ones in front are fast and the one behind pushes hard. We are all healthy and in good shape, looking forward to arriving in Itajaí.
NORTH
We are sailing north and close reaching, chasing Alvimedica. “One at a time”, as Iker puts it. First them, then Abu Dhabi.
Read moreThere is little left to Cape Horn and it’s tight. It’s like a never-ending 100m sprint. It’s explosive, and we must constantly give 100%.
SURFING THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC
The five Volvo Ocean 65s are sailing at full steam to Cape Horn and fantastic sailing conditions are propelling us towards the Atlantic Ocean. 30 knots of gusty, strong wind are filling our A3 sail with the power to surf the frozen waves of the Pacific.
Read moreThe Southern Ocean challenge is the biggest there is in offshore sailing, and riding the waves in 30 knots wind at the aft, with the world’s top sailors is just the best.
30 KNOTS… CAPE HORN, HERE WE GO!
We have our eyes firmly on the Cape and we are sailing full speed, we are not going to stop until Brazil!
Read moreIn about 200nm, we will leave the ice exclusion zone behind and we’ll be able to sail straight to Cape Horn
TIKI TAKA IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN
We’re here in the middle of a tiki-taka fight in the Volvo In-Port Southern Ocean Race!
Read more“Get ready for a really tough end of the race, the wind will pick up non stop. After Cape Horn we’ll have 40 knots heading upwind, and then 35 to 40 reaching,” says Iker.
24 HOURS, 23 GYBES
Gybe after gybe we crossed our competitors as close as 50 metres. These crossings make for super exciting racing and today the fleet is as close as predicted
Read moreThe fleet is sailing together again, and together we’ll reach the new wind. The first to get to Cape Horn is going to have a good leverage on the others. Sailing to Itajaí is going to be tight.
RECOVERING ENERGY
The sun came up, went down, the wind dropped and the sea state subsided a little, so that we could finally sail calmly enough as to repair sails, winches, check the mast and organize things inside.
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