Friday, November 25, 2011

Volvo Ocean Race / Island welcome awaits PUMA

With a little under 100 nautical miles and about 24 hours of motor sailing ahead of them before they reach the sparsely inhabited archipelago of Tristan de Cunha, the thoughts of the PUMA Ocean Racing sponsored by BERG crew are split between the welcome prospect of setting foot on dry land and how to deal with the massive logistical challenge they still face.

Credit : A. Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/VOR

In his latest report from the boat, media crew member Amory Ross summed up the mood on board PUMA, as the crew prepared for the arrival in Tristan de Cunha:

"Yesterday was a tough one in a lot of ways. It was a day I think we all knew was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier. The post-breakage shock left a lot of us in a bit of a buzz, a hazy world of extreme optimism and positivity.


We haven’t lost that, not by a million kagillion miles, but the hangover has set in – the realization that with some recent setbacks in shipping and transfer, logistically we have a seriously hard mountain to climb if we’re to make the starting line in Cape Town.


That is a weight nobody wants to carry, or even accept. Fortunately we’ve got help: Craig Rodgers from the Volvo Ocean Race and the DHL team have been trying everything possible to make this happen for us – a huge thanks to them.


Now for the good news! These obstacles are only making us more resolute and more determined to get there. And as tough as yesterday was, it was our most productive day yet.


It was a really good day, actually. There were no imminent distractions or dangers – just us, the boat, and many, many, miles closer towards Tristan. The work lists are going full speed and everyone’s doing their due diligence to ensure that when we get the eventual pickup, maybe a week from now, we’re giving ourselves the best possible chance to succeed.


The team spent the better part of yesterday afternoon reading up on Tristan da Cunha (thanks to everyone for sending the info) and we’re all pretty excited to spend some quality time there. We arrive tomorrow morning and are well briefed on island politics, geography, demographics, economics, and wildlife.


Turns out it is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world. Seriously, what are the odds that we end up in a place like this? I know, pretty good…


They’ve got rock hopper penguins, lobsters, albatrosses, a volcano, 262 future friends…


…and hopefully one very well-stocked pub!


Talk next from LAND."

Amory