The Azzam crew will choose caution over risk when dealing with the rough conditions expected today as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet leaves Sanya, China, for Auckland on Leg 4 of the nine-month, round-the-world event.
“Our approach to the whole race is generally quite conservative,” Simon Fisher, navigator for the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing boat, said yesterday by phone.
“A nice situation to be in, when you can afford to be conservative. It means you are a good team, doing well and not feeling like you have to take a big risk.
“Our mantra is always, ‘finish on the podium or close to the podium’.”
Azzam is one point behind leaders Dongfeng Race Team after finishing first, third and second in the first three legs, respectively.
A three-way tie at the top became a two-boat race when one of those top three, Brunel, straggled home fifth in the third leg to fall four points adrift of Dongfeng, the China-backed team.
The 5,264-nautical-mile fourth stage looks set to begin in some of the most difficult conditions the race has experienced with an upwind battle to round the northern tip of the Philippines before angling south-east towards New Zealand.
“When we leave, we will sail into building winds and building seas,” said Ian Walker, the English skipper of Azzam.
“It’s going to be pretty bumpy. I’m sure we will have some difficult conditions.”
Fisher said he rarely thought about his foul-weather gear on the previous leg, which was sailed mostly in calm seas and light winds.
“The last leg was mentally draining,” he said, recalling the test of avoiding collisions in the crowded Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.
“This will be more demanding, physically, especially the first few days – strong winds and big waves. Certainly, much more hard work.
“It’s quite a demanding leg.”
Fisher will be involved in an early decision that could have significant ramifications as the leg unfolds – how far north and east to sail past the Philippines before giving into the yearning to get south.
“We need to go south and east but the more south you go early the harder it is to get east easily,” he said. “So, strategically, we’re always looking to get east early.”
The leg will take the fleet down the eastern side of the Philippines, leaving New Guinea to starboard before sailing east of the Solomon Islands.
The islands dotting the course thin out as the boats approach New Caledonia before making the dash to Auckland.
The fleet faces doldrums in the Pacific Ocean, just south of the equator, and potential tropical storms in the southern hemisphere.
Azzam have made one crew change, with Australian trimmer and helmsman Phil Harmer returning after missing the third leg because of illness and injury to allow his replacement Neal McDonald to resume his role as race director.
Dongfeng are changing out half of their eight-man crew, which raised eyebrows, given their Leg 3 victory, but French skipper Charles Caudrelier said the team were sticking to their strategy of giving experience to Chinese sailors, who have sailed in pairs as the race unfolds, among an otherwise European crew.
Success in a race of one-design boats has gone to the crews who eke out short leads and are first to reach areas of stronger winds, which can quickly produce a lead of 10 or 20nm.
Another factor taken into the racing calculus is keeping the boats and sails from breaking as a crew pushes to the limits.
“That’s very important in terms of long-term strategy,” Fisher said. “You have to look after the boat as well as the people.”
No one is saying this leg will be more difficult than the next – Leg 5 into the frigid Southern Ocean and around the tip of South America – but it could be tougher than anything seen so far, Walker said.
“It’s tropical cyclone season in the southern hemisphere so there is always that risk,” he said.
“Going to be plenty of challenges, that’s for sure, not least to beat everybody else.”
poberjuerge@thenational.ae
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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.
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
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What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
