Scallywag skipper David Witt confident ahead of equatorial crossings during Volvo Ocean Race

The Hong Kong representative is in last place among the seven-boat fleet less than three days after leaving Lisbon on the second leg

Reading Time:3 minutes

Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag skipper David Witt is confident of his team’s chances. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:45pm, 8 Nov 2017Updated: 10:53pm, 8 Nov 2017

Skipper David Witt will be hoping his crew’s experience in unpredictable weather will help Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag play catch-up with the rest of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet as they approach the “Doldrums” off the west coast of Africa.

The Hong Kong representative was in last place among the seven-boat fleet less than three days after leaving Lisbon in Portugal on the second leg towards Cape Town in South Africa – a 7,000 nautical-mile journey.

It is one of four long legs in which the fleet will cross the equator and Australian Witt is confident his experience in places such as the fickle Derwent River at the end of the Sydney to Hobart race will give them an advantage.

Volvo Ocean Race skipper David Witt of Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag team attends a news conference in Lisbon. Photo: Reuters

“For me the most challenging part of the race is going across the equator four times,” said Witt. “I actually think that’s going to be the biggest challenge. That can be the most frustrating place on the planet.”

When asked why his crew would relish the challenge, Witt said: “Simply because we’ll be the best on that leg than all the other teams. Our guys will be awesome. Because we’re experienced, we’ve got the best drivers and we’ve got the best seaman out of the teams.”

Scallywag finished fifth in the first leg from Alicante, in Spain, to Lisbon in a race won by US-Denmark boat Vestas 11th Hour Racing.

Spain’s Mapre was second ahead of China’s Dongfeng with Dutch boat AkzoNobel fourth. Scallywag finished ahead of Team Brunel, from the Netherlands, and United Nations entry Turn the Tide on Plastic.