Volvo Ocean Race - Team Brunel sailing full throttle to Cape Town
by Stefan Coppers, Team Brunel on 2 Nov 2014
Waves crash over the boat as the team head further south. Stefan Coppers/Team Brunel
Team Brunel’s On Board Reporter Stefan Coppers reports on day 21 of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Position: Third
Distance to Cape Town: 1575 nm
Driven by strong westerly winds Team Brunel is now sailing full throttle to Cape Town. The temperature drops rapidly and the wind increases in strength. A furious area of low pressure located at the South Pole is taking us to Cape Town. This is the habitat of albatrosses, whales and a fleet idiotic ocean sailors. The hats aboard Team Brunel are exchanged for balaclavas and shorts for survival suits. Vapor is steaming from the sailors mouths. Welcome to the Southern Ocean.
A large wave breaks on the foredeck. The water swirls wild foaming through the gangways and changing the cockpit in a tub of ice water. Deeply hidden in his collar Pablo Arrarte is standing on the aft deck. Remarkably often Pablo Arrarte takes a peek inside the navigation station today. Below deck Bouwe Bekking puts on his sixth layer of clothing. Large water drops are dangling above his head on the ceiling and his sailing boots are standing in a layer of sloshing water. Even in the boat, everything is wet. Yet Bouwe Bekking grins. For him this is another day at the office and he thoroughly enjoys it. 'I love sailing the Southern Ocean with the boys. There is nothing more beautiful than this,' says Bekking with a big smile on his face. 'It is time for a new day.'
Bekking wait to go out until the next wave washes over the deck. Immediately thereafter, he quickly climbs in the cockpit and he rushes towards the aft. He laughs and shows his muscles. Just before another load of water washes over the deck he gets there. In the meanwhile Gerd-Jan Poortman is operating the winch for the main sail. 'Do you know why we think this is so beautiful? This is typical Dutch weather! We are used to this. 'Pablo Arrarte shakes his head from the hatch: 'Please give me Santander,' he mumbles Team Brunel website
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