Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper Ian Walker was relieved to see his team and their racing yacht Azzam emerge unscathed from a crash tack while sailing in darkness on Leg 5.
Ian Walker described the incident as a lucky escape for the team, who are running fifth in the stage from Auckland to Itajaí but still hoping to challenge for a podium place.
The British skipper said the feeling was bizarre, yet remarkably peaceful, as the boat capsized and he found himself getting dressed while standing on the walls of the boat, before the crew managed to right the situation.
"Right now the Southern Ocean is showing us who is boss," he said.
"We are just shy of 50 degrees South and since the passage of the front 36 hours ago we have had sustained 30-40 knot winds. We are sailing with 2 reefs in the main and the J4 which is pretty controllable but the sea state is horrendous as it remains confused behind the front. We are sailing hard but trying to minimise the slamming as much as we can.
"It has been an eventful 24 hours with nighttime surfs up to 40 knots (Si Fi claimed that one), helmsmen being washed off the wheel (well that was me and luckily I landed in Craig’s lap) and the piece de resistance the crash tack.
"Nocka can claim this one but had mitigating circumstances as the wind gear blew off the top of the mast and the numbers he was steering to in the pitch black went haywire.
"My last words to him before he started helming were, 'Whatever you do, don’t Chinese gybe into windward.' He took me to my word and as the numbers indicated he was going to crash gybe he steered hard up to weather. The net result was an inadvertent tack and ensuing capsize.
"It was bizarre down below trying to get dressed standing on the walls of the boat as the main hard against the runners and the keel the wrong way held the boat on its side. It was remarkably peaceful.
"Once we got some boys on deck we managed to tack the runners, centre the keel, back down and get sailing again. After a good check of everything we were off again. A very lucky escape.
"So we have just under 2,000 miles to Cape Horn and it looks like it will be windy all the way. Hopefully the waves will sort themselves out a bit but either way the next five days are going to be anything but dull."
credit : i Roman / Volvo Ocean race
Ian Walker described the incident as a lucky escape for the team, who are running fifth in the stage from Auckland to Itajaí but still hoping to challenge for a podium place.
The British skipper said the feeling was bizarre, yet remarkably peaceful, as the boat capsized and he found himself getting dressed while standing on the walls of the boat, before the crew managed to right the situation.
"Right now the Southern Ocean is showing us who is boss," he said.
"We are just shy of 50 degrees South and since the passage of the front 36 hours ago we have had sustained 30-40 knot winds. We are sailing with 2 reefs in the main and the J4 which is pretty controllable but the sea state is horrendous as it remains confused behind the front. We are sailing hard but trying to minimise the slamming as much as we can.
"It has been an eventful 24 hours with nighttime surfs up to 40 knots (Si Fi claimed that one), helmsmen being washed off the wheel (well that was me and luckily I landed in Craig’s lap) and the piece de resistance the crash tack.
"Nocka can claim this one but had mitigating circumstances as the wind gear blew off the top of the mast and the numbers he was steering to in the pitch black went haywire.
"My last words to him before he started helming were, 'Whatever you do, don’t Chinese gybe into windward.' He took me to my word and as the numbers indicated he was going to crash gybe he steered hard up to weather. The net result was an inadvertent tack and ensuing capsize.
"It was bizarre down below trying to get dressed standing on the walls of the boat as the main hard against the runners and the keel the wrong way held the boat on its side. It was remarkably peaceful.
"Once we got some boys on deck we managed to tack the runners, centre the keel, back down and get sailing again. After a good check of everything we were off again. A very lucky escape.
"So we have just under 2,000 miles to Cape Horn and it looks like it will be windy all the way. Hopefully the waves will sort themselves out a bit but either way the next five days are going to be anything but dull."
