Sensory Overload: VOR 2008-09

The 2008-09 Volvo is going to have all of our senses addressed with the option to leave little for the imagination or nothing at all, each dependent on how "techy" the person following from the safety of a desk or hand held device. If you're really rolling with the times, on your home TV via the modern standards of internet and cable all being one.

Yesterday they practiced sending still photos to the web gurus back at the Media Center, not all was smooth but an article was posted soon after arriving to shore. I suspect that will be worked out well before Saturday's race. Today the Volvo Ocean Race TV personnel finally received all their gear to pick up the pace for producing more frequent video and the web gurus are hard at work in this very tiny room compared to what I call home.

Maybe it keeps them more focused and concentrated but I am in the room the size of a tennis court while the people keeping the home site updated and running smoothly are in something short of a closet. Though this room, currently home to more remote controlled model boats I've ever seen in a toy store, it is quite distracting. Never mind the large flat screen TV in eye shot playing around the clock extreme sailing TV...the media center is sensory overload!

It is all representative of this year's event, from the happenings in the media center to when you walk out in the village and greeted by the red glow of Puma city. It's loud. It's extreme entertainment. There is more to do then any sailing related event I have ever been to in my life.

So to add to own personal sensory overload, this week I'll be arranging meetings with Team Delta Lloyd and Green Dragon, both seem very keen to chat by their quick responses and ease in coordination. I talked a bit more with Jonathan McKee yesterday late and he's agreed to sit down more formally and trying to rope in two more crew for the chat.

We've talked with Bouwe Bekking last week and will try to talk more formally, however with being in his team's home port and the sudden flood of t.v. shows arriving (there is a Swedish version of the Today Show reporting their morning news here in the upcoming week!) I've been staying with the boat captain of Telefonica Blue and things have been very busy with PR/media.

Spoken to members of Team Russia as well, if time permits I will sit down with them. They are really excited to talk to American based media! Oh, and the PR representative from Green Dragon shared with me their extreme enthusiasm for the Boston Stop over and looking for tips on top Irish Pubs!

There is a scheduled race for the "mini 70s" today, will scope it out and post up photos later in the day.

Adiós de Alicante