Get the caiprinhas ready! il mostro has been sailing for 37 days. That is a long time without much contact with the outside world. The PUMA Ocean Racing team is expecting to arrive into Rio around the middle of next week.Typically, when the sailors get in, they are a bit disorientated, hungry and want to see their families. Imagine being isolated from the outside world for a month (or more!), with 11 other guys, and freeze dried food…it’s a bit crazy, but this is what our sailors have signed up for.
Here is an example of the team’s schedule the night they arrive into a stopover:
1. Welcomed by wife, partner, children, and shore team.
2. Walk up the dock and straight to the stage to be welcomed by Volvo, media and local fans.
3. Champagne presentation. Pass the bottle around to each sailor.
4. Interviews post champagne. Remember, these guys are still adjusting to the outside world, so interviews are always done very quickly.
5. Customs. The boys would rather skip this all together, but that is not an option, they cannot get kicked out of the country before the In-Port Race!
6. Quick debrief. And by debrief we mean, steak sandwiches, beer (or caiprinhas in Rio).
7. Back to the hotel to SHOWER, and SLEEP in a REAL BED.
Oh, the life of a Volvo Ocean Race sailor.
