Racing 2011-’12 Volvo Ocean Race: Leg 1

2011-’12 Volvo Ocean Race: Leg 1

View images from onboard Puma, Telefonica, and the rest of the fleet Photos by Amory Ross, Diego Fructuoso, and other VOR media. Follow the racing in our Finish Line forum with daily position updates and onboard video.

By Sailing World Staff

November 23, 2011

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, skippered by Ken Read from the USA has suffered a broken mast on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, which began 17 days ago from Alicante, Spain. The rig onboard PUMAÕs Mar Mostro failed at around 15:00 UTC in the southern Atlantic Ocean, about 2,150 nautical miles from Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Rome Kirby driving with the jury rig after PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG was dismasted during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Ken Read looks back at some weather forming near the exit of the Doldrums. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Antonio Cuervas-Mons onboard Team Telefonica during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race) Diego Fructuoso

King Neptune’s partner Codfish sacrifices a dollop of Rome Kirby’s hair after crossing the Equator for the first time. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Tom Addis/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Tom Addis

Tony Mutter tries to rinse off after an on-deck shower. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Joao Signorini onboard Team Telefonica during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race) Diego Fructuoso

Skipper Ken Read writing emails down below. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Ryan Godfrey taking a daytime nap with his iPod. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

King Neptune arrives on the “Mar Mostro” to grant passage across the Equator to first-timers Rome Kirby and Amory Ross. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Tom Addis/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Tom Addis

Telefónica rumbo a Gibraltar./ Telefonica towards to Gibraltar.

Team Telefonica on their way to Gibraltar at sunset, on leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. María Muiña

A quick reef before a rain squall arrives. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Charles Caudrelier onboard Groupama Sailing Team during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

The fleet at the start of leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean race 2011-12 from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa (Credit must read: IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race) IAN ROMAN

Phil Harmer from Australia, Martin Krite from Sweden and Jean-Luc Nelias from France, onboard Groupama Sailing Team during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s yacht Azzam, skippered by Britain’s Ian Walker, returns to Alicante, Spain after the mast broke in rough weather on the first day of racing on leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Nick Dana/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Nick Dana

Groupama Sailing Team during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

Brad Jackson (driving), Casey Smith, and Rome Kirby (snacking) during a midday watch. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Team Sanya, skippered by Mike Sanderson from New Zealand at the start of leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean race 2011-12 from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit must read: IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race) IAN ROMAN

The fleet at the start of leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean race 2011-12 from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa (Credit must read: IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race) IAN ROMAN

Stuart Bannatyne enjoying typical trade wind sailing onboard CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Hamish Hooper/CAMPER ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race) Hamish Hooper

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia at the start of leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean race 2011-12 from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo Credit must read: Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race) PAUL TODD [email protected]

Groupama Sailing Team during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

Groupama Sailing Team during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

Windy conditions greet PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during morning 2 of leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Michi Mueller cleans the starboard daggerboard with a bottle of McLube, probably the only guy on the boat tall enough to do it. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s yacht Azzam, skippered by Britain’s Ian Walker, returns to Alicante, Spain after the mast broke in rough weather on the first day of racing on leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Photo Credit must read: Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race) PAUL TODD [email protected]

Tony Mutter on the helm and Ryan Godfrey trimming the traveler. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Mike Pammenter from South africa onboard CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa. (Credit: Hamish Hooper/CAMPER ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race) Hamish Hooper