Crews struggled to find their sea legs and the fastest route around the northern tip of the Philippines on Tuesday night in what Volvo Ocean Race sailors hoped would be the final hours of a particularly punishing stretch of water.
Meteorologists correctly predicted the upwind push to the east after leaving Sanya, China, on Sunday, would present the most difficult conditions yet in the 2014/15 round-the-world race.
“Finally, we get what we came for: life at the extreme,” wrote Sam Davies, skipper of Team SCA.
Many hands conceded to being laid low by the “super-violent” conditions.
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“I’ve been too seasick to think about anything racing related for the last 24 hours,” wrote Sam Greenfield, the on-board reporter for race leaders Dongfeng. “You don’t have to throw up to be seasick.”
Amory Ross of Alvimedica wrote: “It’s an indescribable feeling of nausea that takes hold, a stomach churn so permanent that it makes you incapable of anything. The group universally feels like crap and it usually lasts until conditions improve.”
Davies said: “We have some crew members struggling to find their sea legs and so we are looking after them. If you get sick, you are allowed a Coke and ginger nuts, so there is a small bonus to the misery of seasickness.”
Ian Walker, skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam, said his first objective in Leg 4 was to get through the heavy weather in the South China Sea before the long stretch south-east to Auckland.
Matt Knighton, Azzam’s on-board reporter, said Walker refers to the area between Hainan Island and Luzon as “the Sea of Certain Breakage”, recalling that his boat Green Dragon was so battered in the passage that he stopped for repairs during the 2008/09 Volvo race.
“Most of the tactical choices that will determine the leg will happen after rounding the Philippines,” Knighton wrote. “Right now, it’s a war of attrition to see who will make it in one piece.”
Knighton described hour after hour of boats dropping off waves.
“As soon as there is 10 seconds of perceived calm water the boat launches off a wave long enough to make everything free-fall down below before slamming with a force that shakes the mast above. It reverberates through the entire hull.”
As night fell, Azzam was slightly behind Dongfeng, with the rest of the fleet within 15 nautical miles of the leaders.
Team Brunel on-board reporter Stefan Coppers wrote that one of his boat’s crew, three-time Volvo veteran Jan-Gerd Poortman, said the nine-month competition is not for the faint of heart. “If it were easy, everyone would do it,” Poortman said.
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.