2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race

[ChrisK]

Incredible machines and leading edge media coverage. I'm rooting for US boat, Puma...dig that paint job!

The in-port race starts this morning...the only US stop is in Miami, May 2012.

In SD
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/home.html

In HD
http://new.livestream.com/volvooceanrace

[ChrisK]

Two of the six boats broke on the first day. Beating into 35 knots of breeze

Demasting on Abu Dhabi:
"Our mast broke into three pieces when landing off a big wave in 30+ knots of wind. We were sailing under a J4 and two reefs"

Team Sanya has serious hull damage:
"a puncture wound on the port side and streams of carbon peeling off"
"Pumps are running and the watertight bulkhead is holding."

Luckily no injuries, both boats are motoring in, less than a day out.

Yesterdays start is here
http://new.livestream.com/channels/11/videos/9651
The boat performance is pretty spectacular!

[ChrisA]

20+ knots of wind, flat water for the in-port buoy race part of the start and the water just pouring over the bows. Those boats are designed for maximum agony. I'm really glad I turned Kenny Read down when he asked me to sail with them.

[Charles]

20+ knots of wind, flat water for the in-port buoy race part of the start and the water just pouring over the bows. Those boats are designed for maximum agony. I'm really glad I turned Kenny Read down when he asked me to sail with them.

SMILE!

[ChrisK]

Just like a rum race, but ahhhh, slightly different.

Awesome machines to watch, but you can learn a few things if you listen to the announcers, watch some of the sail handling, sail choices and crew work. Alot of the same principles apply to the Icicle and Rum races!

The race to leave Cape Town starts slow, but picks up throughout the race...

http://new.livestream.com/channels/11/videos/57728

The in harbor race (the day before, link below) is much more exciting, downwind start, more mark roundings and sail changes. Shorthanded with only 10 guys racing a 70 foot boat that's capable of 25+ knots. That's impressive in itself.  
Puma makes a tactical error and looses the lead...another boat has a sail handling error...  
Glad to see the guys who can afford these toys, and those that do this for a living, make the same mistakes we do!  

The good stuff starts about 10 minutes in...
http://new.livestream.com/channels/11/videos/56728

[Charles]

Just like a rum race, but ahhhh, slighlty different.

Starts slow, but picks up throughout the race...

http://new.livestream.com/channels/11/videos/57728

Good Stuff.

[ChrisK]

Exciting in port race in Brazil. Lots of drama, at the start and midway through the race...

Looks a little like our Wednesday Nights with the downwind start.
A good lesson here: the race is never over until it's over...even the top guys make big mistakes!

Action starts at about 24:00 min

http://new.livestream.com/volvooceanrace/itajaiinport/videos/551768