'We made few mistakes'

Monday 27 July, 2009 14:00 GMT

FROM THE COCKPIT

By Torben Grael (skipper Ericsson 4)

The race was tough this time with the boats very close for so long for most of the race. 

That made for a very intense and very difficult race, but it is also meant to win we really had to make the right decisions at the right time and work on the speed of our boat all the time. It was fantastic racing.

To come out of such a difficult environment with all those leg wins, for us, has been a wonderful thing. I was not 100 per cent sure about taking over from John Kostecki [the original skipper of Ericsson 4].

I did have to think a lot about it.  I have to thank Richard Brisius, the syndicate head, for putting a lot of pressure on me and helping me to make the decision.

I had the option to go to the America's Cup at that time, but my daughter said, 'do the Volvo, it's much better'. 

It is always difficult, getting into something that is already happening. It was hard for me and also for the crew. Of course, people never know what is going to happen, and although we did have big cultural differences, we all tried to make it work and that was the reason why it did work.

It was not all fantastic and all perfect; we had, as I believe with every boat, good moments and bad moments, it is natural on a race like this. You are always going to make mistakes and everyone makes plenty, but normally the winner is the one who makes fewest. We were pretty good on that aspect.

We had a good start in Alicante and sailing in the trade winds is always very nice. The record on the first leg was a fantastic thing. When you win a leg and reach the harbour with all the people waiting for you and celebrating is a fantastic moment.

Having the experience of going to India and China, was of course very different from the previous race, but we had a great time there too. Going around Cape Horn, especially after you have done it and survived, was a big moment.

We arrived in the approaches with 55 knots of wind, sailing without a mainsail with just a J4 and a storm staysail and we had problems with the steering.

It was very close to the limit.  Of course, it was very dangerous and we took many risks, but that is why you do this race. Now it is over, I have mixed feelings because we know this is the end of the story for the project.

It's a funny feeling because some of these guys I had never met before and now we are like brothers. Now we go our own ways and it's a strange feeling. We all like this event and it is not easy.

It is hard on the body and it is very draining on your mind as well, but it is fantastic sailing and that is what brings us back. It is very difficult to get this sort of sailing in other events. If we can make it fun, there is every chance we will come back.

This article appears in Life At The Extreme magazine, issue 32.

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