Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » Flag Officers » Races » Magnus Olsson Tribute race

I thought it was about time someone started a thread that could contain anecdotes about this wonderful sailor - please feel free to add links to stories and videos on the internet too. Let's make this a real tribute folks!

Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009
______________

First info from xmariner:

Magnus Olsson sailed around the world with the Volvo Ocean Race five times before he became captain of his own crew aboard Ericsson 3 during the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009.

Ericsson 3 won the longest stage (stage five) in the competition's history, from Qingdao to Rio de Janeiro - a stretch of the 12 300 nautical mil as they sailed on time 40 days, 5 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds.
_____________

--- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2013-05-15 11:36:47 ---
There is a great tribute to Magnus Olsson on this blog from a sailor who knew him for nearly 40 years. speeddreamblog
___________
edited to make link out of url

--- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2013-05-15 18:12:54 ---
“We may have arrived on different ships, but we are all in the same boat now!” Martin Luther King Jr.
I was not able to register on time for Magnus Olsson Tribute Race. However, I am very much interested in taking part in it. If anybody could "lend" me his boat (login with password) I would be happy. If possible please let me know. Thank you.
The sailonline tribute race in honour of Magnus Olsson started on 11 May 2013 at 1800z. The sailing world lost the very popular Olsson in April. He took part in six Whitbreads/Volvo Ocean Races and won with EF Language. However, the ever enthusiastic Olsson took perhaps his most memorable leg victory in the 2008/9 event between Quigdao to Rio. He was skipper of the slower of the two Ericsson boats but his bold move after the NZ gate to head northeast when old wisdom directed the rest of the fleet southeast. He took a huge lead and held on to win the leg.

The course took us from the China Sea, past the Korean peninsula into the vast Pacific Ocean. A gate required the fleet to approach New Zealand before diving into the wild Southern Ocean. An ice gate kept the fleet out of the iceberg strewn deep south on the way to Cape Horn. From the cape the course took a turn into the South Atlantic and north to Rio.

The key decisions that won the race were:
- Heading east for several days after passing the Korea
- Crossing the doldrums north of Fiji
- Heading northeast soon after the NZ gate
- Staying close to the coast rounding Cape Horn and passing west of the Falklands
- Riding east in the strong winds half way between the Cape and Rio into mid ocean before continuing north
- Making the best of the complex weather patterns in the last few days approaching Rio

I was an hour late for the start so was well down in the rankings early. The start was fast with a beam reach and 400nm days. The wind came forward onto the nose. There was a spread in the fleet with an intrepid few going through the Japanese Islands searching for good winds – which they did not find. Others decided to bear away early and race towards the Philippines. This allowed an early gain but later they paid the penalty compared to those in good reaching conditions in the trade winds.

The reefs and atolls of the Marshall Islands and Micronesia needed some dodging and captured a few boats. The doldrums opened up for me and I saw more than 4 kts tws at good angles to maintain progress. A complex weather system off the NZ waypoint cause anxiety in the fleet with deciding to go west of NZ. This was a mistake, as the wind strength did not drop too much for the race leaders.

Soon after the waypoint the leaders headed north east, like Olsson did in the past. The wind strength soon picked up and boat speeds well above 20 knots for long periods of time were common. The fleet flew across the southern ocean and those that managed to stay in good pressure with well timed gybes were soon at Cape Horn. Boat speeds were even higher after Cape Horn and it was over 1000nm later before my boat speed dropped to single figures. My best run was in the middle of the South Atlantic when my top speed almost hit 28 knots and my 24 hour run was over 625nm. During this fast run the leaders split, with some heading north early. They ran out of the strong breeze and lost 100nm to those that carried on east.

The last few days approaching Rio were as nervous as ever with changing complex weather challenging the navigators. However, I managed to make good enough decisions between covering my competitors and choosing fast routes to overtake the last few boats and take my best ever win.

Some statistics:

I took about 14 days from the start to cross the equator, then 7d to NZ, 7d to Pacific gate, 4d to Cape Horn and 6d to Rio.

After being #232 soon after the start, I was in top 25 at equator, <20 at NZ, <15 at Pacific gate, <10 at Cape Horn.

Winning Time 38d 5h 23m 9s
Bigbull + 6m20
Outlaw + 10m13

My sincere congratulations on your great victory. Winning the best is possible. You just did it!
Sail Fair.
Bravo Scots !!!

Magnus Olsson, time 40 days, 5 hours, 37 minutes and 57 seconds
NZL Scotsman, time 38 days, 5 hours, 23 minutes and 9 seconds

Scots greater than Olsson !!!

;)

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Kapiti Chetwodes Race 2024


For only the second time in SOL history, we have the pleasure of inviting you to the Kapiti Chetwodes Race, held in the Cook Strait region. Organised IRL by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club from Wellington in New Zealand. The approximately 160nm long route, full of turning points, will take us from the bay at RPNYC around the islands of Somes, Kapiti and Chetwodes and back to the finish line at RPNYC. We have only a 26 ft Albin 79 yacht at our disposal. All this means that we will have a lot of fun, so fair winds!
Race #1864
INFO by brainaid.de
Albin 79 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
ARQ4 - ARCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Nov 25th 17:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Raja Muda Selangor 2024 - Penang to Langkawi

Welcome to the third and last online race of the Raja Muda Selangor International offshore series – a 70nm final trip further north again up the Malacca Strait from Penang to the exotic island of Langkawi, and again in Ker 40s.
Race #1871
INFO by brainaid.de
Ker 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RMS - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Monday,
November 25 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Nov 21st 04:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Raja Muda Selangor 2024 - Pangkor to Penang

Welcome to our second online offshore race in cooperation with Raja Muda Selangor International – an 80nm trip from Pangkor north to Penang up the Malacca Strait, again in Ker 40s.
Race #1870
INFO by brainaid.de
Ker 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: RMS - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
November 23 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Nov 18th 04:00 Registration Open!

▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Two Oceans Doublecross TIMED Race 2024

Our November Timed race takes us to Cape Town near where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. Our ride is a beautiful ketch, the Archer 78. Starting at Cape Town, we’ll round Robben Island, then head south to round Cape Point, up around Seal Island before heading north to round Dassen Island before returning to Cape Town. This is a TIMED race, so you may RE-REGISTER HERE to try again, after finishing a run. You will have 13 days and 11 hours to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #1872
INFO by brainaid.de
Archer 78 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ4 - TRCH - SUPSOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
30 November at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Nov 17th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Nassau to Bodo 2024

Prepare for the grand finale - the 6th and concluding leg of the RTW challenge, an odyssey from Nassau in the Caribbean to Bodø in Norway. Embracing a journey of 4000 nautical miles, this leg promises an exhilarating 18-day voyage. It also heralds the November installment of our prestigious Ocean Race Championship. Embark on a voyage of a lifetime, where prowess, tactics, and camaraderie unite in the pursuit of triumph. We eagerly await your presence at the starting line! May the winds be ever in your favor.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race# 1866
INFO from brainaid.de
Swan 65 PARTICULARS
WX updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: OCQ4 - OCCH - RTW - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Nov 11th 11:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Vida_Maldita
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member QMaxx
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client