SaltyPaws at the start of the Volvo Ocean Race

The selection process was tough, and we did not make much traction with the sponsors. Nonetheless, the SaltyPaws will be at the start of the Volvo Ocean race 2014/15, together with 7 Volvo Ocean teams.

 The race will stretch over 38,739 nautical miles, and call in 11 ports. SaltyPaws was disqualified from taking part of the race, on account of the fact that the dual hull design, hot showers and coffee machine would provide an unfair advantage over the rest of the competition.

At the moment we are in Alliance, where all the Volvo Ocean race yachts are lined up. The boats look spectacular from the outside. We also managed to visit one of the boats on the inside, but not before signing an indemnity waver, and donning a helmet. Once inside of the boat it quickly became clear why the waver was necessary. As I am blogging, and looking around in the SaltyPaws, I see upholstery, a coffee machine, microwave, dual sink with hot water, wooden finish, soft cushions, wooded floors, LED indirect lighting and a couple of cat scratchers. The Volvo Ocean boats off course have none of this on the inside. The finish in the inside is bare carbon – there is no finish the hull and bulk-heads are left bare.

SCA girl crew showing Volvo Ocean Helmets, not only designed to protect from impact with bulkheads, but also flying fish!

SaltyPaws team showing off the correct grinder handling.

SCA navigator showing the navigation equipment. Note that from this position it is impossible to see outside, or even to be comfortable at all.

Even the one little toilet bowl, and the single little sink are made out of carbon. There is no shower on the boat. There is no furnace, only facilities to heat water. There is no freezer or fridge. The only food on board is nonperishable. I can see how a ships dog would be somewhat impractical, as there are no trees on the boat, and the landfall is not expected for another 30 days for some legs. However, what disappointed me the most is that the Volvo Ocean Race Official went as far as doing away with the ships cat. In hindsight, this was probably done as the ships cat would be smart enough to take domicile in the single carbon kitchen sink, Tuxington style, taking away the only available sink to the entire crew.

Tuxington blocking the sink and so simultaneously  earning his nickname "Sinkerton" and being disqualified as a Volvo Ocean Crew. Notice the copius amount of articles not found on a volvo ocean race boat: Cat, dual sink, kitchen top, tap, towel, dishwashing soap and drip tray.

With all the bulk-heads, and tights corners, this boat was already very difficult to navigate on the inside while firmly planted on terra firma. I can only imagine what it would be like going at speed in massive waves. The organizers state how safety was a big part of designing the new Volvo Ocean 65 class, but from the inside it is difficult to how this translated in the design. I imagine every team member in a constant state of sea-sickness, while slowly cutting and abrading their appendages, and breaking the occasional bone. But athletes being athletes, they are probably very manly¹ about it.

Another safety observation: The helm station and navigation station are all within minimum safe radiation range.

The finishing does not even begin to touch on crew comfort. Whereas the SaltyPaws has a comfortable queen sized bed, on a lat bottom, the crew on the Volvo Ocean 65 has to make do with netted bunk beds. Can you imagine trying to sleep on a netted bunk bed, on a boat moving at speeds up to 40 knots, with lots of grinding and noise on the deck!

Volvo Ocean bunk bed on port, SaltyPaws based full queen sized bed, fluffed up by Tuxington on starboard.

The Volvo Ocean Race is designed to take both the sailing sport as a whole, and the definition of the word “minging²” to new levels. No showers for 30 days, a single change of clothing and poo bags... Need I say more? Even the Girls team, sponsored by SCA, which is a big manufacturer of hygiene products, such as Tork, Tempo and Libresse, are expected to come off the boat being the epitome of mingingness.

It is interesting to see how the race and the boats have evolved over time. You will see that not all changes have been for the better. For example, in the first race, all boats were fitted out with a galley, manned by a chef. The boats where equipped with a freezer, and the winning team even brought some bottles of wine on-board. As mentioned above, the current boats have freeze dried astronaut food and energy bars. I hope the team nutritionists remember the cure for scurvy. Technology wise, the materials have changed from aluminum to carbon, the keels have become canting and tilting, dagger boards have been introduced, and the sails use the latest and greatest materials (excluding carbon, as that would block the satellite signals). The first editions of the race made use of sextants for navigation, whereas now it is all GPS and satphone. As a matter of fact, a number of cameras have been installed on the boat, and every team also includes an on-board reporter that has to send 20 minutes of footage every week. The last we heard, he actually forgot his boots for the first leg!

As far as the officially SaltyPaws endorsed Volvo Ocean team, the jury is still out. Elizabeth supports the all woman SCA team. Skipper supports the Dutch Brunel team. Holland has a very strong Volvo Ocean tradition, and is the only country that has won the cup three times. Luna supports the USA/Turkish team Alvimedica. Because we are in Spain, and because of our Spanish relatives, we also root for the Mapfre team. Rest assured that the last word has not been spoken on this subject on the SaltyPaws.

The start of the race will be coming Saturday at 14:00. The race will begin with a few laps in front of Alliance, before setting sail to cape town. SaltyPaws will observe from the spectator field, this time.

1Or womanly in case of SCA

2Absolutely disgusting!