Auckland. The City of Sails. Filled with excitement as it welcomes the Volvo Ocean Race, arriving after a 20 day, 5,264 nautical miles journey from Sanya, China.
Leg 4 of this round-the-world race is now completed.
The remaining six teams have sailed over half way around the world.
For now, it is time to refuel, refit, and relax…..
….and to celebrate with fun activities including those designed to inspire a future generation of Ocean Racers
For Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Wheels
So why do they do it?
Skippers of MAPFRE, Abu Dhabi, and Alvimedica
Skippers of Brunel, SCA, and Dongfeng
What is their reward? There is no cash prize for winning the race but there is a trophy that ‘symbolizes the glory of winning’. I think that Mike Sanderson, winning skipper of the 2005 -2006 Volvo Ocean Race said it best: ‘It was my Olympic Gold, my Mount Everest, my childhood dream’.
It was quite a treat to cross paths with these amazing sailors, even if we are circumnavigating in opposite directions and at much different speeds. I wish the racers fair winds and following seas as they continue their journey from Auckland on March 15.
Nice story and photos Lisa
Well thank you Rob! You are very lovely to say so. As a great admirer of your photography, your compliment means a great deal.
Hi Lisa,
What a great shot of you with the trophy. I have been following your blog on NZ. Looks like you guys are having a great time there.
Steve
Great to hear from you Steve! It is amazing that the VOR are photographing people with the real trophy. It’s heavy. I’m just glad I didn’t drop it :-). Thanks for sailing with me virtually Look forward to sailing with you again in person again someday soon.
What a treat, Lisa! 🙂
Thank you Jo! You are lovely to say so!
I enjoyed the pictures, especially all those reds! I didn’t realize that was you holding the trophy until your commenter above asked. Did you serve on the crew?
Nancy
Thank you so much Nancy! I am lucky to be sailing around the world but not as crew with the Volvo Ocean Race (that would be totally awesome, but I am not that great of a sailor). My boat is smaller, the course easier, and the pace slower, but the reward is just as big (journey of a lifetime)!
I am holding the actual Volvo Ocean Race Trophy in that picture though, which was pretty cool in its own right.
Thanks for the comment.
Very nicely done, great shots, great words.
Entertaining and complimentary 🙂 You are lovely to say such nice things. Thank you.
Bright and Happy. Lifted my spirits as snow fall outside my window in March.
Thank you so much Kalyen! Glad you found the post uplifting! Only 16 days until Spring 🙂
Amazing images and great story.
Thank you so much Nancy! Greatly appreciated!
Very inspirational – Living the dream. Love your photos and your adventurous spirit.
Thank you Sandy! So pleased you love my spirit AND my photos 🙂
Lovely photos Lisa and such an interesting story – what adventures!
Thank you so much Rosemary!
Lisa – hi!!!!!
and this post was exciting to soak up – and the trophy one – it almost looks photoshopped – but you can tell it is not – and that is huge. I also love how you describe the win for Mike S. “my Mount Everest, my childhood dream” and I think I have heard of his name before.
anyhow, my fav of this reward post is your entry for fee’s challenge – the “Dreams Of Sailing In The Volvo Ocean Race” – your classy touch on that – the soft edge -the way the leg lines up with the pole – and the other verticals – the hair – and then the shadows (nice choice for b & w) – but truly a special photo – and how you tied it into dreaming of the big race your covered here… okay enough kudos from moi – hope you are having a nice month of march so far — <3 TTYL
You are lovely as always Yvette! You have most certainly improved my March :-). It is nice to see you back from your holiday. I am very much enjoying your Florida posts
thanks so much for saying that about the posts – they are “unfolding” – because comoing home my only thought was one single post with maybe 30 of my best shots – but the 5 day b & w challenge gave me the idea at the right time. and by the way, I am not sure if you have done the B & W challenge – but I would like to link you for my day 3 – and you can do it any way that you want –
I have not yet done the B&W challenge and would be honored to be linked to your Day 3. I will enjoy seeing your next three days!
oh I am glad to hear that – I will be linking you in a couple of days – probably this Sunday – 🙂 have a nice rest of the week
I’m actually quite taken by the design of the posters featuring the skippers. Very nicely done.
Thank you so much Allan! Greatly appreciated.