... chats with the soon to be almost legendary skipper Asif (aididit) who explains the difficulties virtual boats encountered during VORG L3 negotiating Sri Lanka by going NORTH via the strait of Palk and the subsequent birth of the Liberation Tigers Group. Mange who was fascinated by all this but at the same time puzzled exclaimed but you cant sail there! and Asif clarified (roll eyes duuuuhh) Oh yes you can! If youre a virtual boat that ishave blue, will sail!
Mange had heard about the virtual game but was not aware of the thousands of totally mad people all over the world, who during months followed the trials and tribulations of the VOR sailors like himself and at the same time competed against each other. He wondered what it was that motivated this level of commitment ( see vid)
Mange: Was there a cash prize?
Asif: Oh yes! A Volvo V70
I told him (some of it on line and some off line) about our good friend PO7 not being a group of 7 experts, but a family of 7 incl triplets (and that he owed me a ride on his new car). I also told him about the friendships that had been forged, as people of all ages and nationalities helped each other, not only with the virtual sailing, but in real life about Jose Luis smuggling a laptop to the clinic when Merche lost her memory, about sailors with troubles in their lives who had found help from others sailors in far away places, about people meeting up in real life as long lost brothers (and sisters :-)). I told him about the oceanographic projects; POE and aididit drawing peace symbols on the date line, tulips to mark the loss of a Dutch friend, albatrosses to save the endangered species. I told him that we now all fly the Haitian flag as a symbol of solidarity but that the symbols sometimes even become actions and that there was some good souls out there (sorry Jeff/Mary I couldnt remember the name of your friends) who help people in need and cough up $ for miles and donate them to charity.
Magnus is a great skipper and he is a great talker who frequently participates in seminars and team building events, so I took the opportunity of our chat to tell him how people like him (and Mikael Krita who was also there) inspire normal everyday people like us to be a little bit extraordinary even if it is just now and then.
Magnus was very intrigued and amused and actually enjoyed listening to all this bizarre blaha that I poured on him. Later he thanked me for the inspirational stories!!! What?? Thank me for the inspiration!?!? Yes guys, he found this fascinating and meaningful to know that their adventures and competitions are not just a high fly corporate PR thingy, but that they help to bring sailors all over the world together and raise the interest and knowledge of sailing.
I did this as I had the opportunity to meet him for a chat and I thought I may as well let him know about this (otherwise he usually does most of the talking!). Magnus is a sincere and jolly type!
As a rear admiral once told my dad about doing stuff (so he says..but I think it was about messing up); mister never mind why people talk about you as long as they do! Later theyll never remember what it was you did, but theyll remember you!. I think he will remember the VORG Liberation Tigers with a smile and a warm feeling Liberation Tigers LOL what a craaaazy bunch of weirdos
(this encounter was organised by and took place at Limhamns Skeppshandel, a fully assorted yaching equipment store with experienced and competent staff... themselves world class sailors
http://www.limhamns-skeppshandel.se/ )
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Volvo Ocean Race Magnus Olsson portrait part 1.movby A3MediaGustavMorin622 views
Magnifico Hermano!!
roguepilot55 1 month ago