The vital connection
by Louay Habib 18 Dec 2014 07:34 GMT
17 December 2014
Billed as the closest race in the 40 year history of the round the world race. The 2014-15 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is certainly living up to that prediction. After two legs of the 39,000 mile nine leg circumnavigation, three teams are tied at the top of the leader board and both legs have been one by just a few agonising minutes.
Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED), winners of the latest stage of the race between Cape Town and Abu Dhabi, are ranked highest on the scoreboard as victors of the most recent leg. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR), who claimed the first leg between Alicante and Cape Town, and Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA), who finished as close runners-up in the opening two stages, are also on four points and full of boat speed and confidence for the leg to Sanya, their home port.
Sadly, the big news during the leg was that Team Vestas Wind (Chris Nicholson/AUS) did not complete the leg, after running aground on a reef. Bouwe Bekking spoke exclusively to Cobham SATCOM about how communications at sea proved absolutely vital for the safe rescue of the crew and in general for safety in an area known for pirate activity. Bekking also gives his views on how satellite communication has changed the race in terms of performance.
The crews will now take a breather over Christmas while the shore crews check out the boats for the next three weeks. The Abu Dhabi in-port race will be held on January 2, before the fleet sets sail again for the open seas for the 4,670-nautical mile Leg 3 to Sanya in China the following day.
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