Now We Get Our Break

We have officially finished our first [incomplete] leg to the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012! The sensation is strange. There is nobody here and the leg isn’t technically over, even though we’ve just sailed 4,300 miles and crossed a finish line. Weird, eh? Now we must anchor until customs opens in the morning. Then our boat gets loaded onto the deck of another container ship. Given our vast experience in the matter, we shouldn’t have a problem with that…

Third place isn’t exactly what we wanted or are capable of, but after losing out big-time in the doldrums and dropping to fourth place, everyone’s relatively content with reeling in Groupama over the last few days for the podium position. Some renewed confidence in our boat speed and a little positive juju will go a long way towards enjoying the hard work in front of us during the Abu Dhabi stopover. There is still much to be done in the boat work department, work that we just couldn’t get around to during our limited stay in South Africa.

So now we get our break. It’s been almost two months straight – six weeks of continuous work – with one day off in Cape Town. To say we’re ready for some rest and relaxation is an understatement. Everyone’s looking forward to getting to our families and taking a deep breath from the PUMA’s Mar Mostro life, while also enjoying some belated Christmas cheer.

Thank you for following our trials and tribulations and thank you too for all of your endless support. This leg was not without its ups and downs, and we appreciate you for again sticking with us through thick and thin. We promise – we’re not trying to make it a habit!

Here’s wishing everyone a Happy New Year from all of us at PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG. See you in 2012!

- Amory

Amory Ross

Media Crew Member

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG