Telefónica reach Cape Horn, pull in for repairs

 

Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race

Team Telefónica reached Cape Horn at 0405 GMT on Saturday and soon after suspended racing as they arrived at their pit stop destination.

Iker Martínez’s men were the third team to pass the milestone, after Groupama sailing team and PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG celebrated going by the tip of South America on Friday.

Telefónica were less than 200 nautical miles behind the top two at the 0400 GMT position report but that gap will grow significantly over the next 12 hours.

Telefónica suspended racing at 0427 UTC and finally opted to carry out their repairs at Martial Creek, a cove in Herschel Island in the Cabo de Hornos National Park, starting at 0640. Technical chief Horacio Carabelli is overseeing the repairs.
They hope to get everything completed in quick time and resume racing after 12 hours of suspending racing.

"We've just passed Cape Horn," reported MCM Diego Frusctuoso from the boat. You could only see the silhouette but it meant a lot to us, above all the ones who have never been here before -- Zane, Ñeti and me."

Groupama and PUMA were heading up through the South Atlantic towards the Falkland Islands with PUMA in hot pursuit.
Groupama had stretched their lead by one nautical mile in the three hours to 0400 UTC to be 36.3 nm clear of their second placed rivals.
The remainder of the fleet was making gains, as they too continued to race towards South America where they will suspend racing for repairs.
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand remain 1397 nm behind the leaders and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing trailed more than 340 nm behind CAMPER.
CAMPER Media Crew Member Hamish Hooper this morning reported that the team have about 900 nm remaining until they reach Chile, where their shore crew are eagerly awaiting their arrival.
Hooper said the team marked the milestone of having 1000 miles to go with a social gathering, which helped buoy the team he reported.
“Everyone came up on deck from below like marmots emerging from a warm winter burrow,’’ he wrote from the boat. “It was interrupted with a gybe, which got everyone pretty excited over something to do. There was no shortage of positivity though, I made sure of that."
Hooper said the team were of course envious of PUMA and Groupama’s position, but were accepting of their reality and in good spirits.
“The mood on board is jovial, the acceptance of our situation is well sunk in and there is no shortage of jokes amongst the guys and conversation remains colourful on all things from batman to bread,’’ he said.
“It’s a good place to be. In a way this time on board now before we reach Chile has become our stop over because as soon as we dock it will be action stations, all guns blazing until we get the boat fixed and back sailing until we cross the finish line in Itajaí. Bring that on!”
* Story updated at 0452 GMT on Saturday, March 31; Pacific mistake corrected. Thanks for all those who spotted!