Volvo Ocean Race

The. The. The. The. Fellow from Annapolis America's sailing capital. I'm Gary Johnson. Welcome to the beginning of the most exciting rulings and dangerous competition you'll ever see the Volvo Ocean Race Around the world. Originally known as the web road race until 1998 the competition celebrates its 10th anniversary with the fantastically of second generation Volvo open 70s. Some of the fastest and most refined sailing yachts on the seas with it. Credible speeds of over 40 knots. Now these competitors have been speed testing for the last several

months but now it's for real. The weather forecast predicts powerful winds and everybody is going to be analyzing their speed as they set off for Cape down over 6000 miles away over the next 39 weeks we're going to follow the high and the lows of all eight teams as they race to 11 ports around the world from Spain to Singapore Washington the stock all. We're going to be there and find out who's going to finish first in St. Petersburg Russia. The next Volvo Ocean Race will be the longest in its history. 37000 mile test of body and soul. Will all nine months eight boats

and the Seven Seas. Home from which one wins limit. While the ocean race is brought to you in part by Brown advisory information is available at Brown advisory dot com. The Volvo Ocean Race starts from Canty in Spain the first of

11 ports to host the fleet on its new extended route around the world from how they can see the boats charge into the Atlantic Ocean on the long dive south to Cape Town at the end of Lake one. The fleet then heads east from the Cape of Good Hope bound for Cochin in India. The waters of Singapore host the fleet for Christmas before the hard sail north through the Siberian winter to Qingdao. Leg 5 is a sailing marathon twelve thousand five hundred miles to the Pacific Ocean around the iconic Cape Horn and up to the welcoming climes of Rio de Janeiro in. The northern hemisphere then beckons again to take the fleet to Boston. After that is a high speed transatlantic dash to go away and I have. Next is a pit stop in Maastricht followed by a stopover in Stockholm. And on to the grand finale itself in the stunning city of St. Petersburg. It's the longest route the race has ever seen. And the toughest.

Of. All. Meeting the fleet in this year's race are some of the finest all round sailers in the event's history. We will. Go for all our Olympic medalists six on multiple Well champions. Three have contested the America's Cup. But Andrea's Hannah Kampen Gero rule come newcomers. And they've met before. When Team Russia collided with Delta Lloyd in the county in port race last minute entry looked in danger of missing the lead one stopped line but the boat is back on track. Skippering the first of the Ericsson bugs is another newcomer. And is Luanda leading an inexperienced all Nordic crew east meets west in the Green Dragon campaign headed up by double Olympic silver medalist Ian

Walcott. Three ways favorite is Ericsson fold that by the great golden grail five times in a limping medalist loud and proud human will pose a big threat not least with America's Cup veteran can read at the helm. Telefonica Blackie is one of two telephonic abodes local hero Fernando ek of Ari's with an old Spanish speaking crew. And completing the lineup and competing in his sixth round the world race legend Bal Becky leading Telefonica blue. Of the 80 competitive sailors contesting the first leg to Cape Town roughly Hoff on newcomers to the race. But for the veterans saying goodbye to loved ones is no easier. A farewell from the King of Spain to Ericsson's crown prince. The start of the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race is just a few hours away.

Ahead of. The six thousand five hundred nautical mile challenge to Kate to. See the conditions here and I can say for the stalls of the old school like to Cape Town in the Volvo Ocean Rice pumps little heaps. Of 20 to 25 volts a breeze and this gives the crews a real taste of the wants to cost. Me three. Seconds to go to the store and this is where the crews make their final approach to the line. For the next month. While the little green dragon stuck in the fleet. Feet. On board with Eriksson and that is the

gun full concentration. Telefonica blue cuma and Erickson getting great starts. Green Dragon and Delta Lloyd both full stops this right hand side. Not such a good start from Green Dragon is they getting there. Which meant to power all the sails the grinders. Giving it heats all the pulses like blows sells it to get maximum power. Was all aflutter. Good. Was. Loose. Please. Please. Wasn't me of looking.

At the Woodward book the battle for second place its pupil or an Erickson story then the two Telefonica buds black leading blue on the barrel white. Key moments here getting the spinnaker of Telefonica blue first to the jump. Straight on board every some fool who are leading the fleet around the tall log muscling in that state still trying to get rid of it in preparation for the charge down way. Back of the Woodward mocked Team Russia leader of the Delta more than green dragon who are fighting it out for the six seven the nightlights. Weak Dragons got to shoot up and look up the powerful blast machine. The breeze up to 25 knots plus for the charge through the by of all accounts a. Problem. Oh.

Look at all the pods going down wind towards the Lua books. Hello. Erickson negotiating a tricky first jibe an. Ericsson full complete the joy ride safe and sound around the photo book. And can be read. Driving not huge but you love bug like it stole of next stall. It's Jake Tapper. Planning. To Sue is going to. Have a. Good. Plan. Plan. Plan.

For you soon. We say. TIME EVERY SINGLE. Morning hotspots. Point on someone. You don't. Want. To assume. Would. Lead. The bus. With the race just a few hours old Ericsson full and surges into the. Plan.

Man. Man. Hurtling down wind can reach both and the rest of the fleet are heading directly for the Straits of Gibraltar. The crew of Vilmos drove the monster and their outfits a strangers to volume controls of an ISA swagger employs its hard work through commitment the form the core of the campaign. This Apollo still here can make us look good but it doesn't change the game. The poor attitude is really good it's been a lot of fun to be involved with that aspect but the ball at the end of the day is hard work to get work as flashy as you want but you still have to work hard.

Kirby personifies Puma's challenge tough experienced competitive. We want to win every leg. That's where our head is at. We wanted with every layer we know that's unrealistic. The fleet is just too good. You know there are two superpowers to lead to both programs big budget that have been at it for a long time and. You know those guys will be the front runners. The men on illustrious how well backed and well drill. If their opponents foul up people will pounce. Can reach cruel making tracks but Eriksen for hot on the heels. For the pre-race favorites failure of any kind is not an option. Life would be better for me by the way that. After the humiliating fifth place in the last race Eriksson immediately signed up the

winning boat's designer Don't you know a big budget to both campaign the envy of their rival. Ericsson Street Crew by hand as Lou and his Nordic team was the first new generation Volvo open 70 to hit the water. I'm a test platform for the boat the following. When the learning curve slackened. Erikson full was produced to be skippered by legendary Brazilian sail it's all been great. His growing crew list started with a previous race when a. Massive investment in talent and technology mean Eriksson cannot afford to play. Well-equipped and ruthless they look. Clue when does team on Ericsson 3 Meanwhile the race looks like it might have ended before it

began. When the rest of the fleet received their rule compliance of the kids in a candy Erickson story did not. At issue where a small number of the illegal cavities in its kill fail but the penalties imposed for noncompliance was swift and harsh reality should be penalized. By the deductible. One point of the inclusion of a day and was there has been a lot of Cory's. By one point to be scoring way points. And by two points at the conclusion of each leg. Until the keel can be replaced in Cape Town. The penalties will remain in force. Erickson's response range from the indignant to the impassioned. Not. There is a spirit always in the right place to be here today and the Nordic games need to become become the future of the right. To. Go to the earth really good.

To. And we were placed so that will be better off in about in terms of styling so the whole thing seems mad that we're getting. And lost on the points system. When the chips were down and we were standing around the bow to the meeting in Limerick which is in that very long ago now. George came in and he basically said listen lads. I know I can make this happen. I might not be able to make it happen in the next week but I will make it happen in the next three weeks. That belief and determination is the reason why all of us are here today under resourced an overworked team is unlikely to challenge the likes of Eriksson any time soon. He's fighting. Fighting positions. That we won't get into positions. To selection like much else in the charas campaign was not finalized until two days before the important race. A watch boat is the

much modified ABN Amro One runaway winner of the 0 5 0 6 of it. It was race day morning before it received its compliance certificate but the collision left a big hold out for repair just a few hours later. First. Person was that. After. After the collision was oh God there goes the offshore. OK I want. To apologize for shaking hands we're buddies again. They're good guys really they just made a mistake we all make mistakes. Back on the water as the pace slows on the approach to Gibraltar the Everest some boats move to the head of the fleet. European waters will soon be behind them. The North African coast in the Atlantic ahead. From Telefonica blue bow backing is all too aware of the challenges that lie in front.

Of. A veteran of five previous races. The Dutchman story is one of courage and dumpy determination for some of them an awful lot. When he and his crew were forced to abandon the ill fated motorist on mid-Atlantic to kill compromised in the storm approaching backings 0 5 0 6 campaign looked like being his last before you get out more than. A. Month the stock was never recovered. But somehow backing self-belief remained intact. It's just good just to go for what we actually made a mistake here say two years on the Dutchman is back as the skipper of Telefonica blue and overall sporting director of the two boat Telefonica syndicate expected to give Eriksen the best run for that money. Right. If us up in your definition.

Business Like course last rites have been Mike Mike the finish and it's just a horrible feeling and looking at the crystal ball about it would have a big chance around the world the podium and the some of them why my homework all of his on the record of writing everything up to confuse the posters this time. Up to two wins out of two in the L.A. County import races telephonic his faith in ballot back in looks well placed to be leaving their home first and second overall is a dream start for the Spanish vote. But there's news from the blue boat less a dream than a nightmare backings opening night because looks to have struck yet again. At the front of the packets grails Eriksson folded leads the fleet through the Straits of Gibraltar. Could it. Be paired with other

good oh yeah better. Rather than. The fit. That it should have a bit of training. Into the year. Of litigation so a lot of a lot of good or. A lot of thoughtful. Guys with. That. Funny thing about all the opposition. All. Of them. All team writes of a trade it would. Be a. Better way to. Go to. The state of. Chasing hot can read and working flat out trying to tame then monster of the. Game in the. Take. And it will. SHOOT THE BALL AND. Give him all. You want to go. Still Of The thought of what a friend a get with really strong mental. State when you just. Take the break. The fifth or the first of. All the people that will hold it hold hold hold.

Blighted with steering issues since leaving and they can say Telefonica blue are struggling to keep up with the leading. Ballad backing was eventually forced to abandon his boat on Lake seven of his last campaign style having been seriously damaged on the very first night of the race. Can history be about to repeat itself. Was the moment at least the stuff. Song was. Just was. One of. The lofts must fetch to. Write the funniest bond and. Was. Told that. They saw things from sightings. So. Far. Nothing. Was shaking something. Like. Something. Wrong. With that shiny thing. You know.

Like I want. You to let me say what I think any guy who get a good night's sleep and then come back in the morning and I feel but will be fixed and yet will be ready to go and. If we're right with the weather then the bikes when they got to last night and it will be right back in the game with that indestructible but. Not. Us Nothing major just a bit of a problem with the tiller. So. We're going to change but tell around from home first rather this has to be good to go. And the 12 hour penalty period is almost up. To me. The. Backings men are now playing catch up knowing that those ahead have failed to make significant gains. For a few months. It's more about cleanup than catching.

A train or maybe a little oil slick. To. Get it. This was all part of keeping the wall beautiful. Over. The oil slick. OK can I. Go. From where it was down the midwifery role for. Sale. For. Float. Me a morphic. Preferred oil. I mean in a. Roll. The fleet heads out of the Mediterranean towards the Canary Island the leading boat still closely. At the head Ericsson senior statesman confer on how best to preserve the slenderly. Of. The Muslim fundamentalists voice.

Back in seventh place team Russia has more immediate concerns. Water is flooding into the boat. Even the media crew members kit bag has been shredded to help stem the flow. Here around the. River. Pretty much straight up. To go along. With. It. They're. Going to. Get. Right. With no. Go. Without taking the cue from. My. Old friend. Already made about oh so. Very degrees of success. For the latest budget. The guys are trying to put. Salt around the world. There was. Great support. Coming from the chamber. And. The builders.

Before. Stopping. The. Problems mounting down below. And this pinnacle Also chances for Andrea's Hannah camp's men on Team Russia another reminder of just why this race is still regarded as lights of the street. Historically the vote that wins the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race has gone on to do very

well in the meantime. Some travel Telefonica blue stay afloat. Well we'll find out next week. I'm Gary Johnson here in Annapolis. Thanks for living with us. We'll see of that. The babu Ocean Race is brought to you in part by a brown advisory. Information is available at Brown advisory. And.