Life on the ocean waves is proving hazardous and unpredictable for Ireland’s Green Dragon and fellow competitors in the Volvo Ocean Race.
From an eight-boat fleet that started the race in October, only four boats remain at sea this week as they head to Qingdao in China on leg four. Despite having sustained damage, and sailing cautiously, the Green Dragon is one of them.
Yesterday the Dragon still had some 600 nautical miles to sail before reaching the leg finish, some 300 miles behind the leaders, Spanish entry Telefonica Blue, America’s Puma, who is racing with a broken boom, and overall race leader Ericsson four, sailing without instruments.
New in the Round the World Race, this leg from Singapore to China is taking its toll on the competitors as they sail in torrid conditions, up wind in unpredictable seas and 40 knot winds. On Tuesday the second Irish entry, Delta Lloyd, was the latest to suspend racing, heading back towards Taiwan after fracturing one of its bow bulkheads. She joined Ericsson 3 who had earlier reported coming close to sinking, while Telefonica Black was the first victim with a crack in the hull. The eighth boat that left Alicante was Team Russia, who did not start the leg due to a lack of finance.
The Green Dragon has experienced a torrid time, and like several boats was forced to take shelter from the conditions. Already nursing a broken rig, the Dragon then suffered damage to the bow. Twenty-four hours later and back on the course, the bulkhead cracked in three places, necessitating another stop. Since then The Green Dragon crew, skippered by Ian Walker, has been sailing conservatively northwards, limiting speed to reduce the slamming, and doing an incredible job of keeping the damaged boat in one piece and on track for Qingdao.
"We still have 600 miles in a wounded boat to go. Having said all this, we are now going faster towards Qingdao than at any time in the leg. We feel like we have escaped the worst, but must not rest on our laurels. The boat could be damaged in ways we do not know and there is a big 'cold push' (gales from the north ) due in two days."
Walker describes the last few days a “nightmare”.
“Twice we have been knocked backwards by waves and once the whole cockpit swamped by a wave breaking over the boat. This was our worst moment yet. In truth it was a nightmare. For those on deck it was pitch black and wave after wave just barrelled down onto us. The helmsman had a near impossible task to try to steer around waves he couldn't see, but could maybe sense or feel.
“This has been my biggest challenge ever as a skipper. The responsibility of the boat, the programme, the sponsors, and of course, potentially the lives of those on board rest in the hands of my decisions. Should we stop and let conditions abate? Should we press on? How fast should we go? What is the wind and waves going to do? Which route should we take to get most shelter? How much punishment can the boat take? Are we doing the right thing? I am lucky to have a great crew, who share in the decisions and have never wavered from the task in hand.
“There is nothing we want more right now than to sail into Qingdao however long it takes us.”
Helmsman and trimmer Phil Harmer described the leg as the “toughest”.
“It’s been a real test of man and machine. The guys on the Green Dragon have done such an amazing job. I feel very lucky and proud to be a part of a team with such amazing team spirit and determination. We are all competitive people on this boat, but we are also all good friends. When one is down, the rest are there to pick him up again, and that why this team so good to be a part of.”
