6:12 AM Mon 23 Feb 2009 GMT
Latest news from the Volvo Ocean Race as crews continue on their marathon Leg 5 to Brazil.
TELEFONICA BLUE LEG FIVE DAY 9 QFB: received 22.02.09 0734 GMT
Ho hum, more of the same - surprise surprise! Reaching along the line, starting to come into the leaders now as they slow in the ITCZ so it's only another 12 hrs or so of this stuff for us for a bit!
We haven't been able to download any weather data for 36 hours now due to a black spot in the coverage which has been a real frustration for us, but it has been the same for everyone I guess. We are managing to get some satellite images from a separate receiver and these are probably the most useful pieces of information coming into the doldrums, so we aren't running completely blind. We should start to get proper coverage back soon but it's still a hit in the guts every time the 'unable to connect' error message pops up on the computer.
Only one drama to report today, around four hours ago everyone's heads popped up out of their bunks and noses started twitching with the smell of smoke. After 15mins or so of us all crawling around, it ended up being Gabri's (Gabriele Olivo/MCM) computer charging cable in the media desk which had burned out. Not much need for the media desk at the moment with no data access to the outside world so we have a bit of time to fix that and get back up to speed.
Last sched just came in and E4 has finally parked - so at last the doldrums are there - people were starting not to believe me! Time to go and start to make some miles up while we still have the breeze. We normally dread the light breeze that comes with this sort of transition, but to be honest, we are all looking forward to the change in routine and the opportunities that it presents.
Tom Addis - navigator
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ERICSSON 4 LEG FIVE DAY 9 QFB: received 22.02.09 1148 GMT
Hello from E4!
After seven days of wet and fast sailing and with some really cold days, things start to change. Today we arrive at the doldrums and the last eight hours has been really painful with lots of clouds and light winds. We are now trying to keep moving and waiting to see what happens with the others. They still have good winds and are getting close to us again. The only good thing about the clouds was that most of our crew could have a shower today and put on new clothes after an intense week on board.
The distance to the finish shows 9,500 miles to go and we are close to crossing the equator for the third time on the race. Everybody is still trying to not count the days but our pace since the start was really good. It's crazy when you stop and think that we still have close to 30 days to go... But that's what makes this race and this leg very special. Even more for me that we will be arriving at my home town!
Today is the second day of the carnival in Brazil. At some places the fire fighters use the rose to refresh all the people who are dancing and singing at the streets. Yesterday night our deck was like that, but the pressure of the water was hurting some times.
Good winds,
Joca Signorini - trimmer
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ERICSSON 3 LEG FIVE DAY 9 QFB: received 22.02.09 1119 GMT
So I admit that it has been monotonous and not too exciting here lately. I did not think it could happen in this race, but it has happened, in part due to the monotonous, uncomfortable weather, and part due to our DTL - Distance To Leader - which has been huge on this leg compared with all the other legs.
That again was due to starting later than the others, which was not fun even though it was a great achievement from Ericsson Racing Team, and we are very happy to have closed in a bit on the leaders. But what we really want is to get up there and match race with Ericsson 4 and Puma.
Which, as I write, we are getting really close to do.
It looks like an exciting week coming up, with very uncertain weather. We do have a game plan, but there are still a couple of very different alternatives possible. And it will only get better (or worse) - the area between the South Pacific Convergence Zone, around 10 degrees South, where we will be in a few days, looks very light and variable. This is certainly a part of the leg where we can not write off anyone with some separation.
Wind speed is dropping below five knots now so better get on deck to help hoisting the code zero! Anything can happen now.
Aksel Magdahl - navigator
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PUMA LEG 5 DAY 9
We had a phenomenal day on the 22nd. Our PUMA family welcomed a new member. Michi Mueller and his partner Meike brought a new healthy baby girl into this world. Mia Carlotta.
One small problem. Michi is out here with us!!!!
Ok Ok, I can hear the wheels turning in your heads. Did he know? Yes of course he did.
It is a bit of a theme on this craft though. Our media guru Ricky Deppe did a similar deed when he was aboard Chessie Racing in the 1997-1998 Whitbread Race. September 25th, 1997 is a day that his daughter Isabel good naturedly ribs him about all the time, he claims. The day she was born and he was sailing to Cape Town on the first leg of this race.
I have said many times that the day my daughter Tory was born was the greatest in my life. I thought I was going to be one of those people passing out in the corner (not a huge fan of even a paper cut to be honest, never mind the birthing process). It was anything but that. It was simply incredible.
With all this said, I know Michi is a proud but sad Dad today. His commitment to this program is nothing short of spectacular. I asked him if he wanted out of this leg and he told me he had committed to this a long time ago and would fulfill his commitment- in not quite as many words as that. He did stash a bottle of champagne on board that came out around the middle of the night last night in a frenzy of peeling bubble wrap off of a warm bottle of bubbly. Michi said it was the best he ever tasted. And we have a slightly grander party planned for him today.
Michi, like any true professional, is back at work, on his watch, doing what Michi does best, which is a little of everything on this boat. There is no doubt that his eyes can be seen wandering from time to time, back to Kiel Germany where Meike and Mia are together no doubt missing the man of the family. At least that is what we guys hope happens...
Welcome Mia. Congratulations Meike. And Michi, you now have the first reason for your daughter to give you grief. And believe me (and I only say this lovingly) daughters don't need much of an excuse to give their fathers grief from time to time. Like Ricky and his daughter, my guess is that you get a good natured ribbing from Mia for the rest of your life. One thing is for certain though; the other 10 guys on board il mostro are selfishly very pleased that you decided to come with us. Maybe your words that you had 'committed' will be her first life lesson as well.
- Kenny Read
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