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The Log • Apr. 22 - May 5, 2016 • 13
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The Team Alvimedica vessel navigated where many boaters would not sail, including the 55th Parallel South, which is just below the southern tip of Chile. Rounding Cape Horn at the 55th Parallel South for sailors is similar to reaching the top of Mt. Everest for hikers.
during three-week long navigations. Days would go by between showering. “There are the physical strains of sailing a boat. You feel like your body is perennially tested,” Enright said, pointing out the thermometer reached about 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the Equator but dropped to 25 degrees Fahrenheit at Cape Horn. Adding to the diffi culty and strain
are mental challenges and interper- sonal interactions within tight quarters for weeks at a time amidst diffi cult situations.
The highlights certainly made up for
the struggles, though. The navigation from New Zealand to Cape Horn took Team Alvimedica to Point Nemo, which Enright described as the most isolated place in the world. The closest people to you are not humans on Earth but instead the man in the space station stretch of ocean between Cape Horn and New Zealand, Enright joked. Rounding Cape Horn was prob- ably one of the greatest satisfactions of the race. Sailors consider rounding Cape Horn to be the same as reaching the top of Mount Everest. Cape Horn is almost at the bottom of the Earth. The sailing conditions there are rough, what with gale force winds, heavy storms and challenging waves. “The race is such a mental grind.
Sailing around Cape Horn was incred- ibly humbling.” Enright said. Both sailors crossed the Equator
for the fi rst time in their respective lives. There was also a moment during the second leg when about 500 birds attacked Team Alvimedica. Towill said a video exists on YouTube, titled “Attack of the Birds on Alvimedica,” showing the experience. An on-board reporter sent out daily content while at sea, while crewmem- bers had email access so they were able to be in touch with family and media and reply to questions to social media. Enright and Towill also had live calls via satellite. Interestingly enough the Team
Alvimedica duo used the Volvo Ocean Race to perform a task for NOAA.
Enright and Towill deployed a drifter in a portion of the Southern Ocean where, as Enright explained, “no one had ever been … before.” Crewing and managing your own
boat during the Volvo Ocean Race is challenging enough. Trying to help another team in distress while on the course (and at the expense of falling behind in the race) is signifi cantly more stressful. Team Vestas Wind grounded into a stationary reef at St. Brandon in the Indian Ocean. St. Brandon is also known as Cargados Carajos shoals. The archipelago belongs to Mauritius, which is between 250 and 300 miles away. Cargados Carajos is a pirate zone, according to Enright. He added there was a cyclone in the area at the time of the grounding. The waters are shark infested. Enright said Team Vestas Wind sailed into a stationary reef at 16 knots. Team Alvimedica served as a go-
between with Vestas Wind, the local Coast Guard outfi t and Volvo Ocean Race’s communications department. None of the other teams stayed back to assist. Race offi cials eventually awarded
Team Alvimedica an extra point for assisting the Team Vestas Wind crew to safety.
Also on the mantle alongside the seamanship and sportsmanship rec- ognition for Enright and Towill were several fi rst place and podium fi nishes. Team Alvimedica was also the fi rst crew to round Cape Horn during the race. The duo is already gearing up for the 2017 race and is currently seeking a new title sponsor. They will continue to raise money through their new company, 55 South, which seeks to raise awareness of marine debris, for participation in the race. “The amount of marine debris out
there is tremendously expensive. There is a lot more under the surface,” Towill said, adding 55 South has partnered with 11th Hour Racing to promote sustainability and sailing.
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