12 days to the start in Portimao

With just 12 days to go to the start of the Portimão Global Ocean Race things are starting to get a bit hectic for race officials and competitors alike. The first boat has arrived in Portimão well in advance of the mandated arrival date of September 30. Lenjon van der Wel and crew John Mackay arrived in Portugal after a long and at times trying passage from the Bahamas. “A 27 day trip with only 13 days of wind is absolutely mind blowing,” Lenjon said after tying up at the Marina de Portimão. “And to make it worse we had engine problems but luckily we were able to shut it down and find the problem - water in the fuel.”

The team made an unscheduled stop in the Azores to pick up fuel and some fresh food but feeling a pressing need to get to Portugal they declined even a cold beer at one of the most famous watering spots for sailors; Pete’s Cafe Sport in Horta. Instead with fresh food on board, full diesel tanks and a fair breeze they set a course for Portimão. The next time “Ocean Warrior” will pass The Azores will be on the final leg of The Portimao Global Ocean Race - there will be no time to stop for a beer then either!

While van der Wel and Mackay were safely tied up in Portugal, the Chilean team of Felipe Cubillos and Jose Munoz were heading out into the Atlantic on their qualifying sail. Their brand new Verdier designed Class 40 needed to be put through its paces and Cubillos and Munoz were in search of strong winds. “We really want to put this boat to the test before we head for Portimão,” said Cubillos before leaving the port city of Lorient. “We can come back to the boat yard afterwards and fix anything we have broken but once we get to Portugal I want this boat to be in perfect condition for the race.” This stunning Class 40, adorned with graphics depicting paintings found in caves around Tierra del Fuego, is one of the newest generation Class 40’s with a generous sail plan and kick-up rudders and is sure to be one of the contenders for the top spot.

The Chilean team sailed a thousand miles out into the Atlantic before turning back in a qualifier that really put their boat through its paces. Back in France they conducted their 180 degree rollover test to ensure that they could re-right the boat in the event it capsizes. While the rollover test is not mandatory for the Portimão Global Ocean Race, it is always a good exercise.

In Northern Europe Boris Herrmann and his co-skipper Feix Oehme are fulfilling sponsor commitments in Germany while their boat, Beluga Racer, is in France getting the final Category 0 modifications.

In Belgium Michel Kleinjans has been testing new sails aboard Roaring Forty and working with the Portimão Global Ocean Race film crew to gather television footage for the planned TV series.

It is a similar story with Nico Budel in Holland. His Open 40, Hayai, is rigged and ready for the race. Budel has added a hard protective cabin over a portion of the cockpit that will allow him to work the deck without getting soaked - in much the same way that modern Open 60 design has evolved. Much more thought goes into onboard ergonomics these days - a dry, happy sailor is a fast sailor!

The Ambition racing team have been hard at work in Gosport on England’s south coast. A port steeped in Naval history, the team peer across the water to Nelson’s HMS Victory whenever they have time to stand and gaze. They are also at the heart of the British Open 60 circuit and indeed have been out sailing on Hugo Boss and Pindar. In fact Hugo Boss skipper Alex Thomson has taken Jeremy and Victoria under his wing somewhat and has been kindly helping them to understand some of the finer points of electronic navigation and weather routing. A truly inspiring place to be. Ambition Racing have secured the services of David Thomson as their boat manager - David has worked and sailed on numerous round the world boats including Playstation, Hugo Boss and Spirit of Yukoh and brings an extra dimension to this awe-inspiring project.

Our eclectic fleet of sailors do not know each other well yet - that process will start in a few weeks time in Portimao. However, they are currently joined by the common bond of preparing their yacht’s and themselves to take on the enormous challenge of racing a yacht around the planet in the Portimão Global Ocean Race - bring it on!

Text from Brian Hancock - Organisator of the Portimao Race