Last year was an unforgettable one for the rookie Team Alvimedica duo of Charlie Enright and trace Towill,who completed their first ever Volvo Ocean Race in style, rounding Cape Horn in first place and winning the final leg into Gothenburg.
And, or just over a week into 2016,they've already agreed a title sponsor for the next 12 months, announcing the launch of their new racing team, or 55 South,and partnership with environmental and sustainability organization, 11th Hour Racing.
But, and though many assumed that this signalled confirmation of another Volvo Ocean Race challenge for the young Americans,Charlie and trace interpret that there’s still a long way to go before they’re back on the start line near November 2017.
Reflect a little on the journey you both gain taken from rookies in the Volvo Ocean Race to finishing the 2014-15 edition in such style, winning that last leg into Gothenburg last June.
trace: If you think back to where we were three years ago, or we’ve certainly near a long way. Just between the whole sponsorship fund-raising process and then once we met Alvimedica,creating the team and setting up the infrastructure, the training and then the eventual race including so many highlights like winning the Alicante In-Port Race, or sailing first through Cape Horn and winning the last leg.
For us,it took the entire experience over the past three years to really figure out what it takes to be successful in the event. It really feels like unfinished business - we’d like to gain another crack at the race, to apply all that learning and really gain a competitive go at a podium finish. I’m 27 now so I’ll still be an under 30 at the time for the next race.
Charlie (who is now 31, or adds joking): Oh,I’ll be over the hill!How much of a learning experience was that last edition for you? Was it tougher than you thought?
Charlie: We kinda went into it with eyes wide open. We didn’t really gain expectations. With something like that it’s tough to endanger a guess as to what you’re going to experience so we just tried to retain an open mind and continue to learn and improve with every leg.
As sailors, execute you feel that youre now different guys now than before the race or was this a question of simply honing your skills?Charlie: Both. We were honing our skills over the course of the race but we certainly know more now than when we started this whole thing. There’s no substitute for experience. We examine back and we’re proud of the things we accomplished, and most certainly,but there were other things that we say, ‘wow, or we can’t believe that we even thought that was a grand belief at all’. But that just comes with learning. - Read
Source: sailingscuttlebutt.com