Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 | Martínez takes the blame for black mark

PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 | Martínez takes the blame for black mark
Team Telefónica skipper Iker Martínez accepted all responsibility after a navigational error dropped the overall leaders from first to last during the DHL In-Port Race Itajaí.

IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race

“I am very disappointed because this is the first time in my whole life that this has happened" - Iker Martínez

PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race

Martínez’s uncharacteristic mistake allowed Groupama sailing team skippered by Franck Cammas to claim their first in-port victory of the race so far and close the overall gap on Telefónica to 16 points ahead of the start of Leg 6 to Miami.

Telefónica were leading with a lap to go when they chose the wrong turning mark at the windward end of the course after the race committee had signaled a change of course.

IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race

Although the Spanish team quickly realised their mistake, it took time to drop their spinnaker and head to the correct buoy, dropping them to fifth place.




“The race was pretty much perfect until then,” said Martínez, who has gold and silver Olympic medals to his credit.
“Then it was very confusing, there were two marks and they were very close together and there were many spectator boats around.
"At the moment we were rounding the mark I just didn’t see the other mark so I thought the one we were rounding was the good one.
“I didn’t even realise after we had rounded the mark. It wasn’t until we were sailing with the spinnaker that Capey (Andrew Cape, navigator) said the mark was not the good one.


“To go from first to last because of something like that is not nice and I am not feeling good about today,” he added.
“I am very disappointed because this is the first time in my whole life that this has happened. I am so sorry for the shore crew who worked like crazy guys to give us some time for training. Then, to get a result like this is not good.”
Martínez said he would try to put the poor result behind him and focus on the fact that the crew’s training during the stopover had improved their inshore skills -- something he believed will be key for the rest of the current edition of the race.
“We have improved a lot over the last few days and this is important,” he said. “We spent some days when we were meant to rest on trying to improve because now the legs are going to become more like inshore races.”
You always learn a lot from the bad things and I hope we will learn from this. I believe in the future we will be able to fight to win in-port races whatever the conditions are.
Now we have to think about tomorrow and load the boat for the leg start.”