Juan is worth waiting for
THE Wild Oats XI team is sweating on the speedy and safe arrival of the Volvo roundthe-world fleet into Melbourne so its international navigator has time to make a quick dash north to be aboard the supermaxi for the start of the Sydney to Hobart.
Wild Oats XI is attempting to break a two-year run of bad luck by not just finishing the race, but claiming a record ninth line honours victory. And integral to this is the arrival of Spanish navigator Juan Vila in time to guide the 100footer south.
Last month Vila helped navigate Mapfre to victory in the dramatic second leg of the Volvo round-the-world race from Lisbon to Cape Town which gave the Spanish yacht the lead ahead of the leg from Cape Town to Melbourne.
“There is a chance he may still miss the leg but we hope not,’’ Richards said.
“They (the Volvo fleet) are rumbling along, so hopefully they can make it. Juan is important to this campaign.’’