Volvo Ocean Race: The race against time

The seventh leg of the Volvo Ocean Race is officially over. But the transfer crews of two teams are still fighting for the fastest possible arrival in the Brazilian stage harbour of Itajaí. The crews of Vestas 11th Hour Racing and Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag had to abandon the leg. The American-Danish team Vestas after its mast broke near the Falkland Islands, the Hong Kong-flagged team after the tragic death of its crew member John Fisher, who went overboard in a storm in the Southern Ocean and remained missing.

David Witt's Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag team last got in touch on 10 April. A short message stated: "The Scallywag transfer team is on its way and making rapid progress and should soon be able to leave the Strait of Magellan. They will soon have reached the South Atlantic Ocean and continue their journey north towards Itajaí." The Strait of Magellan connects the west and east coasts of Chile. At its eastern exit, the south-easternmost tip of Argentina is almost reached. This route allows the Cape Horn Passage to be bypassed, saving the long journey around South America and significantly shortening the crossing to Itajaí.

YACHT online asked the Vestas 11th Hour Racing team today how much progress they have made since setting sail from the Falkland Islands. Spokesman Thomas John McMaw explained: "They only have less than 1000 nautical miles to go and are making good progress up the Argentinian coast. According to the forecasts, they should reach Itajaí between Monday and Wednesday (between 16 and 18 April, ed.). The rig and shore crew are ready and will start work as soon as the boat arrives. Bill Erkelens is managing this with his team on site. Diego Torrado and Spencer Loxton will be on board during the transfer and will know very well what additional maintenance tasks will be required on arrival, apart from setting the mast." McMaw hopes that all the work can be carried out very quickly and that the boat will be back in the water in time for the challenges ahead.

The harbour race for the inshore classification in this 13th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is scheduled for 20 April. The starting signal for the next of the eleven legs will be given on 22 April. The eighth leg will then take the fleet from Itajaí over 5700 nautical miles to the American Bilderbch harbour of Newport. All those involved are currently assuming that this leg and the harbour race can once again be contested by all seven teams.