Volvo Ocean Race, il ritorno di Iker Martinez
Equipo TelefonicaOceanoVelaVolvo Ocean Race 5 Maggio 2009 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=2412,300,204,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Boston – Dopo aver saltato la sesta frazione per rifiatare dopo la lunghissima maratona da Qingdao a Rio de Janeiro, Iker Martinez non vede l’ora di riprendere il largo a bordo di Telefonica Blue.
Il co-skipper di Bouwe Bekking, medaglia d’oro nel 49er ad Atene, aveva scelto la Rio de Janeiro-Boston come frazione di scarico, per sospendere l’attività dopo un lunghissimo periodo di lavoro frenetico, iniziato subito dopo il suo ritorno dalle Olimpiadi di Pechino.
Dopo tre settimane di riposo assoluto, Martinez si dice pronto ad affrontare la fase finale della Volvo Ocean Race, che vedono la sua barca in seconda posizione dietro all’equipaggio di Torben Grael: “Dal punto di vista mentale era a posto, non mi sentivo sotto stress. Fisicamente, però, ero piuttosto logoro. Ora, dopo una ventina di giorni di riposo, mi sento in forma e molto più forte di quanto mi sentissi a Rio de Janeiro”.
“A meno di guai imprevisti sarò a bordo sino a San Pietroburgo e spero di poter dare il mio contributo nell’avvicinare Ericsson 4 in classifica generale. C’è tanto lavoro da fare e fin tanto che non riusciremo a colmare il gap, ci sarà davvero tanto lavoro da fare – ha spiegato Iker Martinez che ha poi aggiunto – Non ci arrenderemo fin tanto che la matematica ci darà una sola chance di vittoria”.
VOLVO OCEAN RACE, TELEFONICA BLUE CO-SKIPPER’S RETURN
[Volvo Ocean Race Press Release] Iker Martinez has returned from his break and admits he cannot wait to get back onboard Telefonica Blue for the remaining four legs.
The Spaniard, who won Olympic gold in 2004, opted to skip leg six to recover from a schedule that saw him begin Blue‘s programme almost immediately after finishing his silver medal 49er campaign at the 2008 Games in Qingdao.
He returned to Spain and now, after a break of more than three weeks, he confirmed he is ready to return, starting with Saturday’s in-port race in Boston.
“I feel good,” the 31-year-old said. “It was very good to have a break. My motivation was fine, it is always high. But physically it was good to have a rest. I feel much stronger than in Rio, which is very good.”
“I had quite a lot of work to do at home, but I had six or seven days of rest and it was a nice holiday.”
“I really like this sailing and I like these boats. I will be very happy on Saturday when I am back on the boat.”
In the time he was away, Blue endured some mixed fortunes. They led for the majority of the leg six race from Rio de Janeiro, but ultimately finished third. For Martinez, it was tough to watch from the land.
“It is quite difficult to see the guys from home,” he said. “It was very good when they were doing well, so that bit was nice and relaxing. The last few days when the boats were so close made me a bit nervous, but it was nice to see the guys sailing well.
“I am really happy to be back. The plan was to rest for one leg and until Russia I will be sailing on the boat. Hopefully nothing strange happens like an injury, but if I don’t have an injury I will be on the boat until Russia.”
Martinez insisted the team, which sits 13 points behind Ericsson 4 on the leaderboard, would not give up their title fight until it is mathematically impossible.
“Hopefully we will do very well,” he said. “We are trying to make the boat faster every day. Our goal is still the same and that is to win the race. That will stay the same until it is not possible to catch up. We will keep working.”
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