Press release - Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

Abu Dhabi’s Volvo Ocean Race team hope for a strong New Zealand leg

Isle of Wight resident Jules Salter, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s navigator, is confident of a strong fourth leg finish in the Volvo Ocean Race - the gruelling 39,000 mile round-the-world sailing odyssey as the Abu Dhabi-backed outfit readies to depart Sanya, China this weekend for New Zealand.

The 5,200 nautical mile leg to Auckland is cited by many skippers and navigators as potentially the most difficult tactically in the entire race. Amongst many other challenges, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing will have to negotiate the highly unpredictable doldrums - this time at their widest point.

Newport-based Salter, won the race in 2008/09 with Ericsson 4 and was a runner-up in the 2005/6 campaign aboard Pirates of the Caribbean. Salter will draw on decades of experience to navigate the team and its state-of-the-art race yacht Azzam, meaning determination, through the unpredictable seas as they continue to push for vital championship points.

“We have some weather data for the leg which, when viewed in isolation, can give us perfect answers for angles and wind speeds we are likely to sail and for how long. What we miss though is the fact that no one races through these areas and perceived wisdom from cruising records does not give the detail we need to verify the accuracy of the weather models,” said Salter the 43-year-old father of two. 

“The best approach will be to keep an open mind. The fleet will probably sail conservatively to mitigate against factors we cannot see in the weather models or if the data is in any way incorrect. I think this makes it fascinating to see how things will pan out,” says Salter.

No stranger to the dangers of life at sea, Salter believes to win, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing may need to marry caution with opportunism as the fleet tackles the South China Sea and the Philippines Sea, which at this time of year can be harsh and could cause sail or yacht damage early in the leg.

“The Luzon Straits between the Philippines and Taiwan are a constriction point and when the monsoon winds and trade winds are well developed this can be a rough area. It is also the meeting of the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean so there is a lot going on there with dynamic weather and currents. We do not want to damage Azzam, her sails, rig or crew so early into a long leg but if you can take a risk and get a jump, it is probably something we have to do to get some good points,” said Salter.

Salter also believes that Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, which currently sits fifth in the overall race standings, is starting to find its offshore rhythm and is confident the team’s desire to win will push Azzam to her limits and see them contest for a podium place.

“We need to keep finding extra performance from the yacht and keep developing techniques on how we sail it. These will range from how we trim the sails, load and stack Azzam with the equipment we carry on board and how we drive it. Three weeks at sea will be a good test for everyone as it will be the longest time a few of the crew have spent on board in one go. If the race is close this should further spur the hunger to win,” added Salter.

Before the Leg 4 start on 19 February, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing will be looking to continue its impressive in-port racing form in Sanya on 18 February, having won two out of the three previous events including the Abu Dhabi showpiece in front of tens of thousands of home supporters.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is also wooing Chinese sailing fans off the water in Sanya with a fortnight of Arabian heritage celebrations in a specially developed pavilion at the race village.

Watch all the race action live on the web at www.volvooceanrace.com

For more information Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, please visit www.volvooceanraceabudhabi.com 
Also, stay up-to-date with all team news, exclusive competitions and content via
• Facebook (www.facebook.com/abudhabioceanracing); 
• YouTube (www.youtube.com/abudhabioceanracing) and
• Twitter (www.twitter.com/adorlog)

Photo caption: Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s navigator, Jules Salter, hopes to chart a successful Volvo Ocean Race leg 4. Credit Ainhoa Sanchez/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

-Ends-
For media information

Sarah Potter
Senior Account Executive
Results PR
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7953 7589
Email: sarah [dot] potterresultspr [dot] co [dot] uk

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
About Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA): Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has wide ranging responsibilities for managing and assisting the development of the emirate's tourism industry and the marketing and promotion of the emirate as a world-class destination of distinction. ADTA’s responsibilities include destination marketing; infrastructure and product development and regulation and classification. A key role is to create synergy in the international promotion of Abu Dhabi through close co-ordination with the emirate's hotels, destination management companies, airlines and other public and private sector travel-related organisations.
Abudhabitourism.ae

About the Volvo Ocean Race: The Volvo Ocean Race traces its origins back to 1973 and is the world’s premier offshore sailing race.  The Volvo Open 70 racing boat is sailed by professional athletes, who race around the world with the prevailing winds.
For media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please visit http://press.volvooceanrace.org

Editors’ Notes: The Volvo Ocean Race
• The Volvo Ocean Race started in the Spanish port of Alicante on October 29 of 2011 and finished in Galway, Ireland during the summer of 2012
• The first 31,250 nautical-mile race first took place over 37 years ago (as the Whitbread Round the World Race 1973-74), testing the crews against some of the most ferocious elements that man can encounter
• The 2011-12 race is the 11th edition of the event
• The Abu Dhabi stopover was the first time the Middle East has formed part of the route for the Volvo Ocean Race
• Lying on the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi has a rich maritime tradition as a trading port. Throughout its history, the iconic dhow has plied the trade routes between the city and its neighbouring countries