Pain Box 2
There is no doubt the VO 70's are also pain boxes, although of a decidedly different sort. Movistar has experinced their own brand of pain in the VOR, and we ran a few questions past skipper Bouwe Bekking to get a little insight.

.We saw the intense crew meeting on video where a number of the boys expressed grave concerns about continuing on. What is the upshot? Who left, who stayed, and who is new?

BB:
When you have been in tense situation, people have to be able to speak up, and clear their minds. Video is always dangerous, as things get cut out, and therefore can easily be misunderstood. Nobody left, Spike went home to see his wife who is highly pregnant. Since we knew that we would arrive very late in Rio, he wouldn't have seen her until the end of the race, so that's why he went home. We are having two changes, and these were planned at the beginning of the race. Mike Howard is taking Noel Drennan's spot, who is sailing for a month with the new Oracle boat in Valencia and then he will return in Baltimore for the rest of the race . Xabi Fernandez is not sailing any other legs, as they start their 49 Olympic campaign this weekend in Palma He is replaced by Fernando Echavarri, (ISAF sailor of the year) who has been sailing with us during the training period.

We heard you say this is important to your career and that you will continue. Is the movistar program in any jeopardy?

BB:
Being loyal to a campaign is always important, and of course to give 100%. People always remember if somebody would throw in the towel. As I said in the team meeting, everybody would be free to leave if he had any doubt. I used my self as an example that I never would leave the campaign,and that I fully trusted the boat, my team and the programme that we have followed, and it is important for my career to show that we have done a lot of good things.

It seems there has been a fair amount of dissension within the entire team, both sailing and on shore. Is this simply the product of a faulty boat or is there something more?

BB:
Everybody has to realise we have been working hard on his campaign, and when you know you have a good sailing squad, good sails and a fast hull, it is understandable that the crew is getting upset with a boat who is letting them down. That's why we have been taking this big step together with Farr, to assure the boat won't let us down again.

Without the breakdowns, do you think you would be able to beat ABN AMRO ONE?

BB:
We did it already once, and we were closing in when approaching the Horn. They have proved to be very fast in upwind and reaching conditions, but we showed pace in the light and heavy running, so we should have good chances to beat them

Knowing what you know now, what aspects of the boats would you change?

BB:
The pivoting point of the keel, no titanium at all, the same keel and bulb for all the boats, and leave all sail restrictions completely free

Have you taken any shit for writing for SA?

BB:
I am a pretty straight shooter, but no bad responses. So far!

Are you going to win a leg?

BB:
That is one of the goals we have, of course like to win as many as possible

Good luck brother!

BB:
Thanks and we will keep you updated.

Cheers,
Bouwe Bekking
Skipper MOVISTAR, ESP 2012