17 days after incurring rigging damage which forced them to suspend racing and head to Fort Dauphin in Madagascar, Team Sanya plan to resume racing tomorrow morning, Saturday 7th January at 0800 approximately, as they pledge to complete Leg Two Stage One of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race. This team have proved yet again their determination and skill in overcoming significant set-backs and getting back into the race within unbelievably short timescales. In Leg One, after hitting an unidentified under water object, they incurred hull damage and had to ship the boat to Cape Town and carry out a major hull repair and they managed to get the work done and were back on the water racing for the In Port race in Cape Town.
Today and tomorrow, however, all thoughts turn to the racing and not the repairs. The boat is being skippered for this short leg by Richard Mason, Watch Captain on Team Sanya as Mike Sanderson, Team CEO and Skipper has to attend to sponsor and team management duties as Team Skipper in Abu Dhabi.
David Duff, Team Sanya COO and Operations Director commented on the team’s feelings today as they prepared to resume racing: “I have never come across such a determined and positive bunch of guys. Every second has been spent on getting the rigging fixed and back in the boat so we can start racing again – but aside from that every team member has been using this time wisely to get as many jobs done to ensure we are race fit for Leg Three into Sanya. From the guys in Abu Dhabi unloading and re-packing containers and sending the right material to the right places; the shore team that travelled to Valencia to support Future Fibres, Bicey and the guys who stayed in Madagascar in pretty difficult conditions, the sailors getting some rest and then fit again for completing leg two stage one and being ready for leg three – all in all a pretty impressive achievement. “
Mike Sanderson, Team Sanya CEO & Skipper, added his comments: “Despite our bitter disappointment in being forced to suspend racing during Leg Two Stage One, tomorrow will be a great day for the team and it will be great to have the boat back racing again. We are all doing this race to be able to show the world what a stunning place Sanya is and to try and steal a few podium spots off the big teams. So this bit of the race might seem a little bit lonely as we will be racing without the rest of the fleet, but it will be great to complete the stage and re-join the action.”
