[BREAKING NEWS] Ericsson 4, a colpi di record

[singlepic=645,250,170,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Oceano Atlantico – Alle 13.30 GMT di oggi, Ericsson 4 ha migliorato sé stesso, portando a 593.23 miglia il record di percorrenza nelle 24 ore fissato in 589 miglia appena poche ore prima. Ricordiamo che il primato precedente era di ABN Amro Two, che lo aveva stabilito durante la seconda tappa della precedente edizione.

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Ericsson 4 sets new record
[Volvo Ocean Race Press Release] At 1310 GMT today, Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael) obliterated the 24-hour record run for a monohull when the team recorded a run of 593.23 nautical miles.
The previous record (562.96 nm) was set by ABN Amro Two during leg two of the previous Volvo Ocean Race in 2006. The new mark is subject to ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.
Puma Racing Team (Ken Read), in second place, has covered 561 nm, just short of ABN Amro Two’s record. The new mark translates into an incredible average speed of 24.71 knots in conditions not best suited for a record-setting run.
Skipper Torben Grael and his crew have been pushing the boat hard all night, first eclipsing the previous mark at 0355 GMT. They have been adding to the record since then, although the current 30 knots of wind is likely to ease.
“It is a great achievement, but we were not really looking for it,” said Grael in a radio interview this morning. “What we were looking for was a good ride on this weather system, and to stay in it as long as possible.”
Grael said: “We are doing 30 knots of boat speed. The wind is around 28 – 32 knots but the waves (around eight metres) are not very good for us. Conditions are marginal. I think we have been pretty much on the edge. Perhaps if we had a better sea state, we might be able to go faster, but it is hard to go faster with waves like this.”
This will be the third time that Juan Kouyoumdjian has produced a record-breaking design. The Argentinean was responsible for drawing the lines of the two ABN Amro boats both of whom held the record in the previous edition of the race, as well as the current Ericsson 4.
For some days now the teams have been anticipating the possibility of a record-breaking run as they ride the current weather system, but concern over damage has led some to back off a little bit.
Simon Fisher, navigator of Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking) paid tribute to Grael and the crew of Ericsson 4. Fisher was the navigator on ABN Amro Two when it set the previous record.
“We have been way too close to the edge too early and, consequently, had to throttle back whilst watching the leaders streaking off into the sunset with a new 24 hour record,” Fisher wrote this morning. “Each position report has had the same frustrating story – more lost miles to the leaders. However at the same time it has been hard not to smile a little when you see the pace that Ericsson 4 has laid down. Deeply, deeply impressive to say the least. It is a shame to see our old record from ABN Amro Two go, but, at the same time, these things are made to be broken and those boys are certainly doing it with style.”
Last night, Ian Walker, skipper of third-placed Green Dragon, and a newcomer to this race, wrote: “This is insane. Thirty-five knots of wind, pitch black, 1500 miles from land and we are desperately trying to squeeze more speed from a boat that feels and sounds like it is going to self destruct any second.” The boat is currently sailing at around 29 knots.
From Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp), navigator Wouter Verbraak says that on deck the spray-helmets are out and everybody on deck has their harness clipped on. “Below decks we are desperately trying to hang on in our bunks. The crashing, banging and squeaking of the rudders, the roaring of the water over the deck and the rushing of the water along the hull are just insane, and it is only when you put some music on your iPod that you can escape from this world of violence.” Both Team Russia and Delta Lloyd (Ger O’Rourke) have taken a dive south to reach the favourable westerlies.
At 1300 today, Ericsson 4 was positioned slightly north of Puma Racing Team with Green Dragon behind them. Further north still is Ericsson 3 (Anders’s Lewander) with Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking) and Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri) behind and to windward.
Telefónica Black has ripped two sails, which according to MCM Mikel Pasabant, made last night even harder, but the team was cheered to see their first Albatross, considered to be a good omen.
“Let’s see what happens. He is a magic bird, the way he flies, without moving a single feather, effortless… amazing,” described Pasabant.

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