Thompson to turn it around
DEE CAFFARI has turned to veteran navigator Brian Thompson as she bids to lift Turn The Tide On Plastic up the Volvo Ocean Race leaderboard.
The seven-strong fleet leaves Melbourne today for the fourth leg, a 6,000-nautical mile race north, up the east coast of Australia, with the navigational challenge of dodging islands as well as another doldrums crossing, before arriving in Hong Kong for the first time in the history of the race.
“We’re champing at the bit,” said Caffari of Thompson, the British helmsman who won the race in 2006.
“He’s one of the fastest men on water, he has got more speed records than anyone else, and we want to put that into practice,”
“He’s very thorough and very experienced and we are all going to learn from him.
“I’m really excited about sailing with him again.”
Thompson, who sailed with Caffari in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2009 on board Aviva, added: “This race is such a high level with the one design fleet and it’s really exciting to be up against the best in the world.” Caffari’s boat currently lies sixth after the brutal leg through the Southern Ocean, during which Team AkzoNobel fell behind the rest of the fleet after damaging their mast track during a gybe in heavy weather conditions.
British sailor Emily Nagel has been forced to drop out of the fourth leg after damaging her back when she was thrown across the deck by an enormous wave.
“Unfortunately a somersault across the boat didn’t go well for my back and I won’t be able to sail,” she said.
“I’ll be spending the next two weeks in the gym and physio getting back to peak physical condition.
“I might even catch up on some much-needed sleep.”
Rob Greenhalgh is the highest-placed British sailor, as watch captain aboard race leaders Mapfre who came from behind to snatch a second consecutive leg victory into Melbourne.
“We had to fight very hard for this victory,” said skipper Xabi Fernandez.
“There’s so much of the race to go.
“But for now it’s looking good and we’re very happy.”