In expectation of the start of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 journalists from around the world filled the press room on the eve of Leg 1. The six skippers share their hopes, fears and predictions...

Chris Nicholson, CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand:

“The expected windy conditions do add to the tension to some extent but that is more of a management issue, just to get the boat out of the Med in one piece. In CAMPER we are used to these sorts of conditions as we have faced quite a lot of them in the last few months. The guys are ready for it and they will take it in their stride. There won’t be any sleep until we are out of the Med.”

 Ken Read, PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG:

“We’ve all sailed these boats in big winds. Just sailing from the Canary Islands to Alicante we saw 40 knots on the nose through the Straits of Gibraltar. I think we’re all used to it. It’s more uncomfortable than anything else, just a pain in the neck. It would be nice if it was a nice 20-knot cruise around the world in flat water but it’s just not the way it is or how we do it. We’re going to be wet, tired, but that’s absolutely what we signed up for. The whole crew knows it and we are confident in the strength of our boat so we really don’t have any problems.”

Mike Sanderson, Team Sanya:

“We’ve got enough off shore experience to remain safe and remain responsible and we’ve certainly got enough talent on board to sail fast, so I’m certainly looking forward to getting amongst it.”
“One of the things traditionally this leg has shown is an all-round fast boat goes well. You get all sorts of conditions in this first leg. In the last two races the 24-hour record has been broken once we hit the westerlies in the southern hemisphere. The reason that in the past the winner of the first leg has gone on to win the overall race is because of preparation. This time there are five campaigns all here to win and us to get in their way. For the first time ever we truly have five teams who could win this race.”



Franck Cammas, Groupama sailing team:

“I am very proud to be here with these guys around me (the other skippers). I have a lot still to learn but I am very excited about that. Offshore, I’m pretty sure my crew is very good. We have a lot of skill on board. We know this first leg well.”

Iker Martínez, Team Telefónica:

For us our goal is to try to be good on this leg, We really look forward to going out sailing. A good result would be to be in the top three. Getting a podium finish is really important, really important for this race. If you are really close to the one who wins you are there. It’s really important to make sure you are there. That’s the most important for this leg -- to make sure you are not out of the game.”

Ian Walker, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing:

“You look at the certificates of all the boats here and they’re pretty much at máximum speed, pretty much at minimum weight, maximum keel weight, minimum mast weight -- you know these boats are all very similar. I don’t think there are going to be any glaring issues. We’re going to have a race.”