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Olympic legend relishes tough life

Stan Rayan

KOCHI: "I’ll never ever do this in my life again," is a constant scream in the Volvo Ocean Race video clippings as big waves often slam the boats.

"That’s probably said at the heat of the moment and yes, sometimes it can get very, very tough during the race," said Torben Grael, the captain of the Ericsson 4 Racing Team which won the second leg of the Volvo Race, in Kochi on Sunday afternoon.

"But it’s a big challenge and when you look back after the race, there is a great feeling, a lot of satisfaction."

The Volvo Race, which began in Alicante in Spain in October and ends in St. Petersburg in Russia nine months later, is Grael’s second. He was with the Brazil 1 team which finished third in the last race three years ago.

Maximum medals

He is also a sort of legend back home, the Brazilian with the highest number of Olympic medals.

Grael has won five Olympic medals, including two golds at the 1996 Atlanta Games and in Athens 2004 in the Star Class sailing event.

How does he compare the Olympics with the Volvo Race...which triumph brings him more joy?

“The Olympic gold of course is a very big achievement as so many countries are there," said the 48-year-old Brazilian who has taken part in five Olympics.

“Still, it’s very difficult to compare. The Volvo Race lasts nine months and it’s a bigger challenge, the F1 of ocean racing."

Memorable day

Breaking the 24-hour record by covering nearly 600 nautical miles during the course of the Volvo Race’s first leg, from Alicante to Cape Town, a few weeks ago has been the high point for Grael in the race.

"That’s my most memorable day. Still, in the end, it’s not all about breaking records, we are trying to win the legs and the race," said Grael who was introduced to sailing at five by his grandfather on a boat which won the silver medal at the 1912 Summer Olympics.

Ericsson4’s second leg triumph here early on Sunday was rather historic for Kochi marked the Volvo Race’s maiden visit to Asia.

"Asia is also a sort of mystery factor for we don’t have much knowledge about the winds here," said Grael. "And there has not been much of ocean racing in this part of the world."

The Singapore to China leg could be the toughest of the 39,000-nautical mile round-the-world event, feels the Brazilian. "We could be potentially sailing against the wind. And there could be potentially strong winds."

It will be hard but the Olympian is up to the challenge.

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