The Volvo Ocean Race competition is so close that teams are scrutinising every campaign component, even team dynamics, in a desperate bid to maximise performance and find an edge.
"We are becoming friends and this is important too because we aren't machines. We need to be happy and enjoy our racing and that really is happening with this team" - skipper Iker Martínez
On board overall race leader Telefónica, team spirit is perceived as such an important weapon in their artillery that it is regarded as almost equivalent to an extra spinnaker in terms of the difference it can make to a boat’s progress.
Skipper Iker Martínez has worked hard at creating a dynamic amongst his team so that when push comes to shove it would drive his team to the front of the fleet, the top of the podium or into the hall of fame.
"One of the most difficult parts of this race is managing a big team, which is something I have never done before," said Martínez who has spent the past 13 years racing as part of a two man Olympic 49er team or two man offshore crew.
"This is why we wanted people with a lot of experience on the team. They are so important because they help with the management.
"We are building a team where everyone is thinking about his own area, but looking also at the bigger picture so that big mistakes are avoided."
Martínez is the main architect of the Telefónica team, having carefully handpicked each sailor with the help of campaign manager Pedro Campos.
A priority for Martínez was ensuring that the cultural sailing differences were minimised between his predominately Spanish team and British watch captain Neal McDonald and Australians Andrew Cape and Zane Gills.
"For the non Latin guys, it can be difficult but I think Neal is more Latin than he thought he was because he seems to like the way we work,’’ Martínez said.
"I am very proud of my team. They are working well together. We have no plans to make any changes.”
While Telefónica have won two legs, it was very close says Martínez. He knows full well that the bad luck that struck PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG on the first leg could easily strike his team, and he’s not taking anything for granted while preparing for the second stage of Leg 3.
"The difference looks much bigger on the leaderboard than it actually is so I am surprised that we are in the sort of position that we dreamed about before the race,’’ he said.
"That's nice, but the difference between the teams is very small. We have also been lucky while other teams have been unlucky.
"What happened to PUMA is not normal - they prepared their boat well, they have a very good team but then they break their mast. This could easily happen to us."
