Volvo Ocean Race stories and articles for magazines, newspapers, websites

Though Volvo Ocean Race is getting exposure in media, the awareness of the importance of Volvo Ocean Race and how special it's for India seems to be less. I compile this statement from the responses I have got from around 30 publications; I approached with a story idea on Volvo Ocean Race. I had different story ideas for different publications, in accordance with the publication, both in India and abroad, in print and online. Either there is no response from the other end or I get the response: We don't find anything unique in such a race!

At least, I am glad, I have two stories related to Volvo Ocean Race - one was to appear in November issue, now postponed for December issue - it is more of a travelogue about the place while my next assignment is post-event travelogue format story.

The advantage I have over several other freelance writers is I live in Kochi and I am following the race through press releases and interaction with the organizers and PR of race teams since the beginning. I will be visiting the Race Village every day to report events on my blog and for my writing assignment.

Green Dragon Suffers as Boom Breaks!

All is not well for all the sailors since they left Cape Town. Minor mishaps were reported from various teams since the team left Cape Town four days back.

A press release, which just reached my inbox, says Ian Walker’s (the only name I am familiar with so far, apart from Bouwe Bekking, Telef`onica Blue) Green Dragon suffered damages. Green Dragon has a broken boom. Ian Walker alerted the Duty Office at race headquarters in Portsmouth at 11:00 GMT Walker via email.

The message from Ian Walker read: "I am sorry to report that we have just broken our boom in a 50-knot Squall. We are in the process of recovering the parts. The situation is under control with no harm or risk to anyone. We are carrying on downwind." Green Dragon was then positioned 39:41.17S , 40:28.73E, 1,500 miles from Mauritius.

The team is evaluating the possibility and the trying to decide on to continue their sail under jury rig to Kochi or head for Mauritius. If they head for Mauritius, they will be in a position to replace their boom.

Two days earlier, Green Dragon’s yacht faced a huge bang, and the result was, the yacht went into a spontaneous Chinese gybe. Ian Walker then wrote, “You might think this is al lright for a boat with such strong Chinese connections but a Chinese gybe is what we all fear most as it is when the boat crash gybes and leaves you on your side with everything including the keel on the wrong side.”

In his entry, he further stated, “As the mainsail hit the weather runners, water started pouring in down below through the ventilation hatches due to the side decks now being underwater, but the boat miraculously turned back the right way, gybed back and righted itself. Everyone’s immediate reaction was that we had broken the rudder, but as it turned out the steering blocks had sheared away down below leaving Neal with no steerage on the weather wheel.”

They had overcome this situation now when they are left with a broken boom

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre finds a place at 'Ocean Race Trade Fest'

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is to utilize space at Ocean Race Trade Fest, an exhibition of Indian Brands at the Race Village in Kochi, with a special focus on the tale of "Chandrayan." For children and adults alike, VSSC's participation will be an opportunity to information related to Indian space science. The press release says, "Basic information on the functioning of remote sensing satellites, communication satellites, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) along with the history of the Indian space programme will be made available to the people."

Leg Two Report - 1

Reports from Leg Two have started reaching my inbox. However, my lack of knowledge and awareness of sailing and Volvo Ocean Race forces me to stay away from discussing the details mentioned in the latest reports. In brief, the latest press release mentions "But, it is a perplexing time for the skippers and navigators: whether to go further south and into the stronger breeze for maximum scoring gate points, or stay further north, in lighter conditions but closer to the finish." As long as one doesn't understand the do's and dont's and what it makes to win the race or score points, such a note and its explanation in the report doesn't make sense! All I could sum up from the reports is the eight teams are spread across a north/south divide. And the distance between this north/south divide is under 40 nautical miles.

Volvo Ocean Race to stop at Kochi!

Welcome to the land of Kochi, where Volvo Ocean Race will stop in Asia for the first time. Though this blog is dedicated to news and events to take place during the ten day stopover between December 3-13, I also intend to update with other news related to Volvo Ocean Race as well as about Kerala, particularly Kochi, occassionally.