For ABN AMRO TWO, the young crew in this Volvo Ocean Race, this leg was critical in their fight to remain on the podium in the overall standings. After a disappointing leg into New York, for the ‘kids’ there was all to play for on this transatlantic dash to the UK.

Currently in fourth place overall, as the fleet reach the half way point on the race course, it is a fight for the team to stay with their competitors and get ready to pounce when the wind becomes favorable for the boat. Simon Fisher, the British based navigator on the boat commented, “While one set of numbers causes frustration [ABN AMRO TWO had lost some miles in recent position reports to the boats in front of them] another brings excitement as the forecast for the next few days looks fresh. Whilst we have finally had to accept that we are not that fast upwind or in light air, we also know that this boat revels in the big breeze downwind and right now that is exactly what our forecast into Portsmouth is set to deliver. So once again we are putting our best foot forward and going on the assault. Already, with the spinnaker set the scheds are looking encouraging and as the breeze increases we are sure they are only going to get better…”

For their ‘older brothers’ onboard ABN AMRO ONE they are having their own battle. On this seventh leg they have been plagued by damage including a broken daggerboard after hitting a whale and issues with leaking oil out of the hydraulic ram, Mike Sanderson and his crew hope for an easier second half of the leg. The ABN AMRO ONE crew believe they might be flying down the Solent on Saturday in 25 plus knots of breeze, which would make a change from the light wind finishes experienced so far. Due to the design of ABN AMRO ONE these have always made for tense times for the crew as the skinnier, light wind designed boats catch up from behind.

“How cool would it be to come smoking down the Solent with gennakers up,” skipper, Mike Sanderson says. Mike also added “I spoke to Dee Caffari today on the phone, she is just about to set a new record around the world for the first women to sail around the world “backwards” single handed [ie against the prevailing winds and tides.] I think she is coming up to 180 days at sea on her own which is just mind blowing - what an amazing achievement. The single handed race that I did a couple of years ago on Pindar was 12 days long and that seemed like forever and I lost about 6 kgs!! I guess you just have to leave with a different mind set. Anyway she sounded great, I felt a bit silly though when she asked me how our leg had been going and I started to tell her how hard done by the Volvo fleet were feeling because we had to go upwind for 4 days!!!! Poor Dee has been pretty much upwind against the prevailing winds for 180 days!! It is looking like she will finish on Thursday and will be back on the South Coast on Sunday which is very cool - the Solent will be a hive of activity.”

Mike and the team on ABN AMRO ONE are currently first in the race and 63 miles ahead of their nearest rivals. The first boat is expected to arrive in Portsmouth, UK on Saturday 20th May.

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