Sick of Sailing – Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing WINS!!!! I can’t think of a more deserving team. Although I am an Alvimedica fan at heart, I had my heart set on Azzam to win this from the get-go. Mainly because I am such a fan of Ian Walker.

Now that the race is over, I don’t know what to do with all of my off-time. However, these guys will know exactly what to do, and that’s go home and get some much deserved R n R. The last few legs since Lisbon have made me exhausted just watching. All of the crews, besides Vestas, looked like they welcomed the finish and were ready to be done with all of this sailing business. Who can blame them?

I can only imagine that these short legs at the end are even harder due to no real sleep rhythm. They are just long enough, but not short enough to allow the crews to NOT sleep ever!! All of this at the end of travelling around the entire world, pushing a high powered sailing vessel to it’s absolute limits…… BRUTAL!

The last few legs brought forth some of the race’s greatest moments. The girls, Team SCA, got a leg win from Lisbon to Lorient, much deserved and way to go! Team Alvimedica also got their first leg win TODAY, finally…..awesome job.

The real testament here is to the boat builders. These boats held up incredibly well after a brutal beating that can only be delivered by attempting to sail a boat around the world as fast as possible. From what I understand, unlike past races, these boats are NOT throw-aways. Hence Team Vestas’ decision to stay in the race despite missing most of the fleet’s journey around the globe. In hindsight this may have actually worked to the sponsor’s advantage, giving Vestas Wind the spotlight by naming all of the in-port races after the company, and also by being the center of controversy for re-entering a race that cannot be won after such certain doom. All of these boats, along with many new entries, are expected to be re-used in the next race, 2017-2018. Again, kudos to Green Marine for building the world’s most dependable one design ’round the world racer.

‘Very Impressed!

This has certainly been the closest, most exciting, and also the least destructive, Volvo Ocean Race I can remember. Congrats to ALL of the sailors who made it ’round the world unscathed……pretty incredible if you ask me.

Here Here!

Overall Standings

	Leg 1	Leg 2	Leg 3	Leg 4	Leg 5	Leg 6	Leg 7	Leg 8	Leg 9		Total
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing	1	3	2	2	1	2	5	3	5		24
Team Brunel	3	1	5	5	4	3	1	5	2		27
Dongfeng Race Team	2	2	1	3	DNF	1	4	7	4		33
MAPFRE	7	4	4	1	2	4	2	4	3		34
Team Alvimedica	5	5	3	4	3	5	3	6	1		34
Team SCA	6	6	6	6	5	6	6	1	7		51
Team Vestas Wind	4	DNF1	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	2	6		60

In-Port Series

	Ali	CT	AD	San	Auc	Ita	NP	Lis	Lor	Got	Total
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing	2	1	3	2	6	2	3	2	4		25
Team Brunel	4	2	2	4	2	1	5	5	6		31
Team Alvimedica	1	6	5	3	5	6	2	3	1		32
Team SCA	6	3	1	5	1	4	4	4	5		33
MAPFRE	3	7	6	6	3	5	1	1	2		34
Dongfeng Race Team	5	4	4	1	4	3	6	6	3		36
Team Vestas Wind	7	5	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	DNS	7	7		66

WAIT……..is there still an in-port race to win!!??