Spectacular Cape Town Start for Volvo Ocean Race
Leg Two: Capetown to Sydney
November 10, 2001
VOR 60s slicing through the fog Photo by Daniel Forster, www.yachtphoto.com
November 11, Capetown, South Africa — The wind Gods were smiling today for the start of the 6,550 nautical mile
leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race to Sydney, providing spectacular sailing
conditions in Table Bay, under the watchful gaze of Table Mountain. A
freshening westerly 24-knot breeze blew out of a clear and cloudless blue
sky, declaring a true beat to windward towards the 200-metre wide gate set
three miles to the west, 2000 metres offshore northwest of Green Point.
Amer Sport Too. Photo by Carlo Borlenghi,www.seasee.it
Long before the crowds gathered, at 6.30 this morning, as the sun rose,
the illbruck crew were observed making last minute checks to their boat;
Grant Dalton was the next skipper to be seen on the dock at 7.30 am.
Father Sergio, the Port Chaplain held a blessing of the waves, and the
Siveli Primary School Choir sang the Lord's Prayer and the National Anthem
in front of a huge crowd which lined the dock and perched precariously on
the wharf walls. The fleet was waved away accompanied by the now-familiar
rock music specifically chosen for each boat and huge cheers.
Photo by Carlo Borlenghi,www.seasee.it
Once out in Table Bay, the eight-strong fleet, set up with full mainsail,
number one jib and full water-ballast, jostled for position in the
starting area which was positioned approximately 500 metres to the north
west of Cape Town Harbour entrance, with two blue and yellow Volvo buoys
as inner distance and outer distance marks.
At the ten-minute gun, fired by Robert Norrman, managing director of Volvo
Cars South Africa, a large fog bank was seen on the horizon, temperatures
dropping rapidly. Two hundred spectator boats were pushing close to the
fleet, churning up a huge wash, while above, eight helicopters circled
like vultures.
Photo by Thierry Martinez / ASSA ABLOY, www.thmartinez.com
The whole fleet made a clean start on starboard tack with djuice choosing
the favourable pin end of the line, next to the breakwater. Tyco was the
first boat to tack onto port, the rest of the fleet followed, forced by
the shoreline to tack out. Djuice continued to work the shoreline,
sailing into clear air, Amer Sports One and News Corp hard on her heels,
with illbruck and Assa Abloy covering each other. The wind dropped to 10
knots as the fleet sailed into the fog bank, but the fight continued, the
lead changing with every tack, Amer Sports One losing precious distance as
she bore away hard to give way to illbruck now back on starboard tack.
News Corp was the first Volvo 60 to reach the gate, three miles up the
race track, followed by illbruck 30 seconds behind her and djuice 5
seconds behind illbruck. SEB rounded one minute behind djuice with Assa
Abloy right on her transom 10 seconds behind. There was a gap of one
minute 20 seconds before Tyco turned through the gate followed by Amer
Sports One five seconds behind her and Amer Sports Too a further two
minutes 10 seconds later.
Photo by Thierry Martinez / ASSA ABLOY, www.thmartinez.com
The fleet continued to sail on the wind, the wind still decreasing, News
Corp was leading illbruck, djuice, SEB and Assa Abloy inshore on starboard
tack, while Tyco, Amer Sports One and Amer Sports Too opted for offshore
route on port tack.
Finally, as the fleet unfurled their Code Zero sails, it was News Corp
leading the pack with illbruck in second place and djuice in third.
Event website: www.volvooceanrace.org
