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The Volvo Open 70 “movistar” starts training in Cape Town
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| Volvo Ocean Race - Movistar - The Volvo Open 70 “movistar” starts training in Cape Town |
| CAPETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA-(20-12-2005) The Volvo Open 70 “movistar” started training in South African waters
today. The Spanish Round the World boat was back in the water on Sunday,
after being weighed in by the Volvo Ocean Race.
The race organisation checked that the “movistar” remained within the
parameters established by the regulations – between 12.5 and 24 tonnes -.
“Our boat is closer to the maximum weight – pointed out “movistar” trimmer
Xabi Fernandez -. “Fortunately, we are still below the limit, despite all
the reinforcements that we have added in the repairs in Portimao.
Otherwise, we would have had to remove weight from the bulb, which, apart
from the extra work, would have translated into a reduction in the speed of
the boat. You could say that it was excellent news for everybody”.
The Spanish Volvo Open 70 entered the water of Cape Town harbour at 17:02
hours local time, once the mast had been stepped and the boat weighed.
“The whole team celebrated the boat’s return to the water – remarked “
movistar” skipper Bouwe Bekking -. After everything we have been through in
the last 35 days, it was fantastic to see it tied up to the wharf again”.
Intense training programme
The “movistar” left its base at 14:00 hours yesterday to face its first day
of sailing since the boat docked in Portimao on the 14th of November.
During the daily meeting, Bouwe Bekking informed the rest of the team of
the programmed plan for the day: “Basically, we are going to test the
hydraulics and see that everything is working properly. That will be about
three and a half hours of sailing. Tomorrow will be longer and harder work
and, conditions allowing, we will head out to the open sea in search of
waves and a stronger wind”.
The “movistar” found excellent sailing conditions for its first day back in
the water, with winds up to 24 knots and waves. “It was a great
introduction to South African waters – remarked Bouwe Bekking back in port
afterwards -. We’ve only done a few hours of sailing, enough to check that
everything is working properly. We’ve checked out the hydraulic system of
the keel and as conditions were right, we tested some of the sails. We will
set out early tomorrow and train all day”.
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Source: Ana Garcia, Bassat, Ogilvy Consejeros de Comunicacion, Madrid |
