If I had to describe this opening weekend of the Volvo Ocean Race in Alicante in one word, it would be relief.

As a team, you can only practice so much for something before you begin to get stale. We’ve been out here in Spain for a month now and before the in port race we were beginning reach the edge of that. We’re relieved to have got the first race under our belts and are now looking forward to what we have really been training for – going offshore. Then we can really see what our creation – il mostro – can do.

This week we have a short list of final preparations to check off before we leave. The PUMA shore crew has done an amazing job – as proven by the fact that we have just a short list of things left to do. This adds a lot of confidence to our team.

The PUMA Ocean Racing Team family is now closer than ever and as this race unfolds, will become ever closer. Our common goal is more clear than ever and this brings our extended family even closer together.