Soon after Ericsson 3 arrived on December 1st, around 1420 hours (local time)

(Photo Credits : Resmi Jaimon / Date: December 1st, 2008)

Ericsson team and others await Ericsson 3's arrival

(Photo Credits : Resmi Jaimon / Date: December 1st, 2008)

Visitors to the race village await Ericsson 3's arrival on December 1st, around 1400 hours (local time)

(Photo Credits : Resmi Jaimon / Date: December 1st, 2008)

Seven teams in Kochi, waiting for the arrival of the eighth - Team Russia

The last three days, I was spending time at the Race Village and today, I chose to sit back home to file a couple of Volvo related stories.

The day before - December 1st noon was interesting when I waited for the arrival of Ericsson 3. The only yacht I have witnessed reaching Kochi. Ericsson 4 reached Kochi during the early hours of November 30th, Telefonica Blue by late evening on November 30th and Telefonica Black, Puma, Delta Lyold and Green Dragon by late evening on December 1st. Team Russia is yet battling their way to Kochi. Hopefully, they should make it tonight or tomorrow morning. With just one team still out in the sea, I was curious to know they were taking things. As I logged on to Volvo Ocean Race website, I found the following release - an interesting one from Team Russia:

'A defiant Mark Covell, the media crew member on board, says spirits remain high and the team is looking forward to the finish:

"We are on the emerald highway home and nothing is going to stop us from enjoying our last few days at sea. Even the rain that is falling now will not break our spirit," he wrote. "We have been catapulted forward by huge waves of the Southern Ocean and stopped dead in our tracks by Indian fishing nets on a stop-start of a leg that still has yet to stop...We hold our heads up high and congratulate the winners."

The team is certainly maintaining its sense of humor, calling in its StealthPlay overnight only to cancel it after a couple of position reports. The team can expect a warm welcome for its efforts when it arrives in Cochin.'

That says it - let us welcome, the eighth team – Team Russia to Kochi.

Story related to Volvo Ocean Race in JetWings (December 2008)

My travelogue on Willingdon Island, Kochi plus a short note on pre-event Volvo Ocean Race Stopover in Cochin story has appeared in Jetairway's inflight magazine - Jetwings (December 2008).

Willingdon Island is the place where the race village for Volvo Ocean Race is set up.

Ericsson 3 reaches Cochin with the third position

Ericsson 3 (Anders Lewander) appeared at the berth by around 1420 local time. According to the press note, Ericsson 3 spent the final 24 hours of the leg almost drifting, choosing to activate their StealthPlay in order to keep their position secret and prevent the chasing pack from sailing round them while they were becalmed. The crossed the finish at 0736 GMT (1306 local time) on December 1st, 2008.

Further the note says, on stepping ashore, skipper Anders Lewander said, “Coming into port is wonderful. It is something you dream of and realising it feels so great. A podium position is extraordinary. This race is worth fighting to be involved in. We have spent a lot of time developing and learning and each leg has its achievements, and on this leg, we have been though all sorts of weather. We now know how we can go forward. I have great confidence in the team.”

Telefonica Blue, led by Bouwe Bekking Takes the Second Position in Leg Two

In 15 days, one hour, 17 minutes and 50 seconds, in spite of serious damage to the daggerboard, Bouwe Bekking's Telefonica Blue reached Kochi at 1237 GMT (1807 local time) on November 30th, 2008 (yesterday).

The press release read, '“It was really fantastic to come second, but it was bloody hard,” said skipper Bouwe Bekking. “The ‘no wind’ was tricky, but I suppose the locals are used to it, but this afternoon was difficult. We were always hoping for a first, but second is still a good result. The last 18 hours as hugged the shore, so we have seen quite a bit of the Indian coastline, the lovely views and beautiful beaches.”'