The Bonus Point Belongs To Brunel, The Thoughts To John Fisher

The Bonus Point Belongs To Brunel, The Thoughts To John Fisher
The Bonus Point Belongs To Brunel, The Thoughts To John Fisher

Video: The Bonus Point Belongs To Brunel, The Thoughts To John Fisher

Video: The Bonus Point Belongs To Brunel, The Thoughts To John Fisher
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The torture is coming to an end: Team Brunel was the first boat of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet to reach Cape Horn at 01:01 p.m. UTC (01/15 German time) and won the associated bonus point. The experienced circumnavigators Bouwe Bekking (8th participation), his navigator Andrew Cape (7th participation) and the crew on the yellow boat passed the legendary landmark on Thursday afternoon. The other five boats were to follow a little later. At the same time, the Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag team, which was badly damaged after the fatal accident of their crew member John Fisher, was approaching the west coast of Chile.

Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018
Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018

The last nautical miles to Cape Horn demanded all their strength from teams like Brunel here

For the Cape Horn conquerors, one of the most brutal sections of the stage around Cape Horn in the history of the Volvo Ocean Race comes to an end. Bouwe Bekking had already reported in the morning how demanding the last nautical miles were after almost one and a half storm-lashed weeks: "We did three jibes, all in around 40 knots. The big question that arises: Let's roll in the gennaker and then jibe or do we let it fly because it makes it easier to pull the mainsail through? Which then carries a risk of massive sunshot. We decided to let it fly three times. Last time in 43 knots of wind. Because I did Driving the bus in the neck, it must have been funny to have watched my pulse rate. But everything went well. And every time you could see the relief on everyone's face. But the most exciting thing of today was that we were almost We had an electronic fire in the media corner, but luckily we didn't have to use the fire extinguisher. Capey (Andrew Cape, ed.) just did it quickly all devices turned off and that fixed it."

Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018
Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018

On-board reporter James Blake managed this little photographic masterpiece by AkzoNobel in a great battle with the elements

Team Brunel's crew was happy about the top position and the associated bonus point, but at the same time his crew was "very, very, very tired", wrote Bekking on his blog. There is "no hurray feeling" on board that normally accompanies Cape Horn passages. He himself didn't sleep for 14 hours. Bekking recalled the tragedy of this stage: "The loss of John is much deeper than people would like to admit: I think of him several times every hour."

Matt Allen, President of Australian Sailing and sailing companion to John Fisher, who died in the Volvo Ocean Race, remembers his good friend

AkzoNobel's Australian security guard Chris Nicholson said: "This stage demanded a good man with 'Fish'. We are all very affected and can only offer our condolences to family and friends." Brunel's chasing group was led by Vestas 11th Hour Racing on Thursday afternoon. Turn-the-Tide-on-Plastic-Skipper Dee Caffari said: "This curve is definitely for 'Fish'!"

Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018
Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018

In the gloomy scenario, Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team is approaching Cape Horn

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