The show must go on, as the Anglo-Saxons say. In the Volvo Ocean Race, this is perhaps even truer than usual. And so today there was some disquiet about a strange photo shoot outside the 328 metre high Sky Tower, in the course of which four sailors in orange jumpsuits waved into the cameras of a hovering helicopter at lofty heights and then plunged into the depths as bungee jumpers.
Tourists who observed this commented, according to Auckland Now were concerned about the helicopter's risky flight behaviour, but were reassured by Volvo spokesman Jon Bramley. The operation was completely legal, had been approved by all parties, and was just one of several features included in the marketing of Auckland. "We also wanted to show the city from the air and four sailors from four participating yachts were invited to take part in the Sky Walk and Sky Jump." One witness still found it "scary" and said the helicopter pilot should at least be questioned about the risky move.
There's no doubt that there will be sailing again on Friday, albeit more relaxed in the Pro-Am Race, but at least it will be a race. Until then, those sailors who don't climb towers to wave at helis try to eat well, sleep really horizontally and regenerate with light sport such as running or cycling. Things are quite different in Auckland's famous Viaduct Basin. The ground crew have to work hard here, as the previous five and a half thousand miles sailed from China to New Zealand have taken their toll on everyone.
The last 48 hours in particular, during which the boats had to fight their way through heavy seas, have put these VO 70s under extreme strain and, with the Groupama drama, have once again clearly demonstrated the very tightly calculated durability. Now it's the service people's turn to check the hull structures with ultrasound, but also to scrutinise the standing rigging for weak points. The motto here is: work fast, slow. In other words, work fast and slow, because a careless mistake could prove fatal on the upcoming and dreaded Cape Horn stage.
At Groupama, the work lights are glowing in the makeshift work tent, because the delamination damage in the bow area, which almost ruined the team's victory at the end of the fourth stage, has to be repaired properly and professionally despite the cold and damp weather. "Putty and paint still need to be applied," said Ben Wright, head of the repair team. "But that will come after the structure. The weather is miserable, everything takes longer and is therefore more difficult, especially the laminating. But we're making the best of it and getting there."
At Telefonica, the job list was quite long at 70 points. Too long, as quickly became apparent in the drizzle. As a result, a complete swap of the rig had to be cancelled due to time constraints. This will now take place at the finish of the next leg in the Brazilian harbour of Itajai. "We were concerned about the standing rigging that was swapped in Sanya," said Horacio Carabelli, head of Telefonica's ground crew. "We wanted to replace it here, but the way it came in (from the fourth leg), we're happy with it."
After the gallop with celebrities and sponsors on Friday, there will be the obligatory in-port regatta on Saturday and then the start of the queen's stage to Brazil via Cape Horn on Sunday.
More on the Event page and about the Live stream and the YouTube channel.
Current positions and distances in the Tracker.
