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Laid back and relaxed at Camp Ericsson

Posted 1 month, 12 days ago

Laid back and relaxed at Camp Ericsson
It's been howling out today and wind through the rigging of these carbon steeds is well heard throughout the entire village. I took some time to sit, listen and take it all in while waiting for a tour of the Ericsson Base to commence. A start for today would have been a rough go for everyone and it's everyone's hope things lay down come dawn on Saturday. All the boat's have extra springs, plenty of fenders and well use to working on such "active" docks. One likes to imagine it's part of the training, working on unstable surfaces which try to dismount those hard at work. While the shore crews carry on with stowing gear, checking and re-checking systems and final press and VIP interviews and tours, the crews of most teams including Delta Lloyd (who've been working long hours) all had a proper "lay-in" (a.k.a "sleeping in for us Americans!) The press were invited for a tour of Ericsson's base camp, only a few sailors lurking about, otherwise quite bare and quiet. They have one of the largest "camps" on site and by far the most "posh" in decor and layout. At last, a proper kitchen to feed sailors and shore crew! Having dined many a night with Team Delta Lloyd, this was the complete opposite of their two burner BBQ to cook enough food for 30+ people (a tiny budget of 5 million verses a double digit affair of Ericsson or Telefonica.) At an insanely packed press conference with the Skippers this morning, Ger O'Rouke shared, "Yah, we are ready thanks to the hard work of the shore and crew, 24/7..." They are stowing the gear and planning a "last supper" in their make shift, total camping-out dining hall. I'm told they will have a proper "home" for "home-cooked" meals in Cape Town. I'm sure a welcomed vision for after completing 6,500nm at sea! In short, all the skippers came across calm and ready to get the show on the road. For us hard core enthusiasts, seeing how the teams play the weather in the Med, use of sail inventory and how using all the information, resources and training gets each team on in being the first to Strait of Gibraltar. Across the board, all skippers agree this will be a landmark on team performance for Leg one. Furthermore, historically the first team to Cape Town has taken home the glass 8-9 months later...with the winner of last year's Leg one on the line (Team Delta Lloyd, formally ABN AMR ONE), and the new generation of V70 it's going to worth having Virtual Spectator book marked, VOR news book marked and all checked regularly! The real entertainment will come when Team Green Dragon, Puma and Delta Lloyd cross the equator...Why? Well, it turns out Ian Walker Walker, Kenny Read and Ger O'Rouke have never paid proper tribute to King Neptune in their extensive sailing careers and all three teams' crew members have something special lined up! Ian Walker shared, "slightly unusual for the skipper to not have gone over the equator...in for a little bit of a bee sting" You'll all have to follow along to get the scoop! Cheers! Full Story »

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