CAMPER have notched up podium finishes on all three offshore legs in this race but if they are to seal a leg win – and overall victory – they must evolve and sail better, according to helmsman Roberto "Chuny" Bermúdez de Castro.
The challenge is a significant one with CAMPER up against Iker Martínez’s Team Telefónica, who have won the first three legs, and Franck Cammas’ ever-improving Groupama sailing team.
“I believe victory is still possible,” said Chuny. “We have to fight until the bitter end. Groupama also have a lot of potential. We need to do what we have to do and it will be a war. All the boats have a lot more to offer – anything can happen.”
CAMPER have shown blistering pace in downwind conditions but have lacked speed on upwind sections of each leg.
“We need to change things, and change them quickly,” he said. “You need to change what doesn’t work. Every team is evolving each day. We need to concentrate on ourselves and improve, we need to wake up and sail better."
This is Chuny's fifth Volvo Ocean Race in 18 years and even in a team bursting with impressive CVs such as CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, the 41-year-old is one the most successful and experienced sailors around.
As well as racing in two America’s Cup campaigns and the 2004 Olympics, Chuny also skippered Delta Lloyd in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race, was a watch captain on Brasil 1 in 2005-06, competed in the Southern Ocean legs of the 2001-02 race with Assa Abloy and began his race career on Galicia Pescanova in the 1993-94 Whitbread Round the World Race.
Despite his experience, rivalled by only a handful of sailors, overall victory in the Volvo Ocean Race has eluded him – but is never far from his mind.
Could it be Chuny’s turn to lift the Volvo Ocean Race trophy?
“You have to dream about winning the Volvo Ocean Race,” he said. “Without dreams you don’t have a life. But more than a dream is to have an objective. I want to win this race like any other. You have to do what you can to win, or at least try to – if afterwards you don’t succeed, it’s good to know you did all you can.”
From : Volvo Ocean Race
Credit : I. Roman/VOR
The challenge is a significant one with CAMPER up against Iker Martínez’s Team Telefónica, who have won the first three legs, and Franck Cammas’ ever-improving Groupama sailing team.
“I believe victory is still possible,” said Chuny. “We have to fight until the bitter end. Groupama also have a lot of potential. We need to do what we have to do and it will be a war. All the boats have a lot more to offer – anything can happen.”
CAMPER have shown blistering pace in downwind conditions but have lacked speed on upwind sections of each leg.
“We need to change things, and change them quickly,” he said. “You need to change what doesn’t work. Every team is evolving each day. We need to concentrate on ourselves and improve, we need to wake up and sail better."
This is Chuny's fifth Volvo Ocean Race in 18 years and even in a team bursting with impressive CVs such as CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, the 41-year-old is one the most successful and experienced sailors around.
As well as racing in two America’s Cup campaigns and the 2004 Olympics, Chuny also skippered Delta Lloyd in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race, was a watch captain on Brasil 1 in 2005-06, competed in the Southern Ocean legs of the 2001-02 race with Assa Abloy and began his race career on Galicia Pescanova in the 1993-94 Whitbread Round the World Race.
Despite his experience, rivalled by only a handful of sailors, overall victory in the Volvo Ocean Race has eluded him – but is never far from his mind.
Could it be Chuny’s turn to lift the Volvo Ocean Race trophy?
“You have to dream about winning the Volvo Ocean Race,” he said. “Without dreams you don’t have a life. But more than a dream is to have an objective. I want to win this race like any other. You have to do what you can to win, or at least try to – if afterwards you don’t succeed, it’s good to know you did all you can.”
From : Volvo Ocean Race
