Groupama watch captain Thomas Coville says the French team were relishing the boat on boat battle they are currently waging for third place with overall race leaders Team Telefónica.
Thomas Coville said both teams were sailing down wind in very light winds, making every manoeuvre critical as they pick their way north towards the Elouthera Light House where they will turn left towards Miami. These downwind conditions make the race very open and more open than it has ever been,” Coville said. “We are very close to each other in very soft wind. There is a lot of gybing and so anything can happen.
“We passed them by taking a different option and we know they could definitely do that to us again.”
Coville said the light airs meant wind angles were as important as boat speed as the pair battled for the upper hand.
“Ten or 15 degrees of wind angle can make a huge difference in the end for either boat. If you are on different gybes the end result can be very different.
“When you gain, you gain a lot and we are both trying to get the advantage.”
According to Coville, the battle between the current top two teams overall was likely to rage all the way to the Leg 6 finish line and he expected no let up from Iker Martínez´s crew.
Despite the pressure to hold on to third, Coville said the Groupama crew were up for the fight having pulled back more than 100 nautical miles in the last few days.
“We know those guys on Telefonica will not let us have one minute of peace and it is going to be a full on battle to the end of this leg,” he said. “It makes the race more interesting than it was before now. Now that we are back in the fight the atmosphere on board is quite good for that reason.
“It is quite a lot of pressure to have, with the Spanish guys right behind us to be honest. Everything is open and everything is possible right now and it will be like this until the end.”
Coville said although Leg 6 had not bee too taxing physically, the mental pressure had been considerable - - a factor he said typified the unique challenge of the Volvo Ocean Race.
“This has not been the hardest leg physically by far but I would say it has been very difficult mentally,” he said. “Everyone is now very focused on the trimming and the helmsmen have a tough job -- it’s very hot and it is hard to keep the boat going in such light winds.
“Mentally and psychologically this is very tough but I think this is why the Volvo Ocean Race is so interesting -- it’s not all about just pushing hard physically.
“This is not the time to think of this but if you look at the scores right now it is probably the first time that so many boats can still win the overall trophy at this stage in the race. I think this is amazing for such a long race.
“Who would have said that could be true when we left Auckland?
“You can crack under pressure. We will see who stands up best mentally when we get to Miami,” Coville said.
Coville paid tribute to the PUMA crew for their wire to wire lead since leaving Brazil, but said it would not stop the French team from trying to snatch victory at the death.
“They have been very impressive -- leading from the beginning and staying ahead for so long in such tricky conditions. You can see all the maturity and the experience it takes to mentally mount such a strong challenge to win the leg.
“I would say bravo to them for the moment, but it is not finished yet though. The approach to Miami is going to be very tricky and you can expect we are going to do everything we can do to come back.”
Coville believes the Gulf Steam could throw up one final opportunity for success or failure for all the teams as they close on the finish in Miami.
“It’s another part of the navigational chess game,” he said. “The current is strong and, especially in light winds, it will have a big impact on the options of all the boats.
“It opens the gates to more options and maybe the chance for us to come back, or maybe to lose a lot.
“Either way, it will make the end of the race very exciting.”
From : Volvo Ocean Race
Credit : Y.Riou/Groupama/VOR
Thomas Coville said both teams were sailing down wind in very light winds, making every manoeuvre critical as they pick their way north towards the Elouthera Light House where they will turn left towards Miami. These downwind conditions make the race very open and more open than it has ever been,” Coville said. “We are very close to each other in very soft wind. There is a lot of gybing and so anything can happen.
“We passed them by taking a different option and we know they could definitely do that to us again.”
Coville said the light airs meant wind angles were as important as boat speed as the pair battled for the upper hand.
“Ten or 15 degrees of wind angle can make a huge difference in the end for either boat. If you are on different gybes the end result can be very different.
“When you gain, you gain a lot and we are both trying to get the advantage.”
According to Coville, the battle between the current top two teams overall was likely to rage all the way to the Leg 6 finish line and he expected no let up from Iker Martínez´s crew.
Despite the pressure to hold on to third, Coville said the Groupama crew were up for the fight having pulled back more than 100 nautical miles in the last few days.
“We know those guys on Telefonica will not let us have one minute of peace and it is going to be a full on battle to the end of this leg,” he said. “It makes the race more interesting than it was before now. Now that we are back in the fight the atmosphere on board is quite good for that reason.
“It is quite a lot of pressure to have, with the Spanish guys right behind us to be honest. Everything is open and everything is possible right now and it will be like this until the end.”
Coville said although Leg 6 had not bee too taxing physically, the mental pressure had been considerable - - a factor he said typified the unique challenge of the Volvo Ocean Race.
“This has not been the hardest leg physically by far but I would say it has been very difficult mentally,” he said. “Everyone is now very focused on the trimming and the helmsmen have a tough job -- it’s very hot and it is hard to keep the boat going in such light winds.
“Mentally and psychologically this is very tough but I think this is why the Volvo Ocean Race is so interesting -- it’s not all about just pushing hard physically.
“This is not the time to think of this but if you look at the scores right now it is probably the first time that so many boats can still win the overall trophy at this stage in the race. I think this is amazing for such a long race.
“Who would have said that could be true when we left Auckland?
“You can crack under pressure. We will see who stands up best mentally when we get to Miami,” Coville said.
Coville paid tribute to the PUMA crew for their wire to wire lead since leaving Brazil, but said it would not stop the French team from trying to snatch victory at the death.
“They have been very impressive -- leading from the beginning and staying ahead for so long in such tricky conditions. You can see all the maturity and the experience it takes to mentally mount such a strong challenge to win the leg.
“I would say bravo to them for the moment, but it is not finished yet though. The approach to Miami is going to be very tricky and you can expect we are going to do everything we can do to come back.”
Coville believes the Gulf Steam could throw up one final opportunity for success or failure for all the teams as they close on the finish in Miami.
“It’s another part of the navigational chess game,” he said. “The current is strong and, especially in light winds, it will have a big impact on the options of all the boats.
“It opens the gates to more options and maybe the chance for us to come back, or maybe to lose a lot.
“Either way, it will make the end of the race very exciting.”
From : Volvo Ocean Race
