Thu, 17 Aug 2006 14:00:00 UTC

Frenchman Seb Josse, found himself in charge of a fully crewed Volvo Open 70 after racing successfully around the world single handed. He and his young crew stole the 24-hour monohull world record along the way in a race which was, for them, a story of massive highs and desperate lows.

The Volvo Ocean Race has been an exceptional experience and I feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity. It has been completely different from the world of solo sailing in France that I know so well, but it has been an incredible experience. Arriving to skipper a new class of yacht with a crew of young sailors has been one of the biggest challenges I have ever taken on. It was certainly a challenge to inspire my crew with the confidence that I could manage a big team!

The first few legs saw us surprise everyone, beating some big names in the process and earning the respect of many. However, the other teams were always going to improve and the later stages saw us battling hard. We sailed competitively right through to Göteborg and proved we were a professional racing team, not simply a marketing strategy. Aside from the sailing, we have been involved with an enormous number of activities, from helping children in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to taking part in the closing ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange. These things don’t happen every day.

The Volvo Open 70 class is still in the early stages of development. These boats are powerful racing machines but the class needs to evaluate carefully the balance of speed versus safety and remain seaworthy. With such a long ocean race, we need to make sure that the safety of the crew is not jeopardised as new technologies and designs push the boundaries. However, I am proud to hold the 24-hour monohull distance record, a testament to our boat designers, shore team and above all the fantastic crew onboard.

The time I have spent with my crew and the bonds we have built were the most rewarding experience. We started out together back in June 2005 and since day one we have been a strong and fun-loving group, and we battled hard to challenge the misconceptions about the “kids”. I have watched many of them develop from young sailors with huge potential, into brave men with strong sailing skills. We have always tried to laugh and enjoy every moment.

My number one priority was to get all my crew safely back to shore after each leg and keep the boat in one piece. The results would have to come as a third priority. Sadly, we lost a much-loved team member during one of the toughest legs in the race from New York to Portsmouth. Hans Horrevoets was more than a member of my crew, he was a very good friend with a wonderful personality. Although the sea took him, it is a stark reminder of the ever present dangers of sailing that are sometimes forgotten, risks inherent in all extreme ocean races.

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved with Team ABN AMRO for giving me this opportunity. From the moment I received a phone call in the middle of the Vendée Globe inviting me to skipper ABN AMRO TWO, the experience has been very positive. I have learned a lot that I can take forward to my next campaigns. Finally, I hope that races such as the Volvo can capture the imagination of public and sponsors alike in France.

Á plus.

Sébastien Josse

Coming Soon: Mike Sanderson

Part 1 : From the Cockpit: Grant Wharington

Part 2 : From the Cockpit: Neal McDonald

Part 4 : From the Cockpit: Torben Grael

Part 5 : From the Cockpit: Paul Cayard

Part 6 : From the Cockpit: Mike Sanderson

Part 7 : From the Cockpit: Bouwe Bekking