Exhausted, hairy, and smelly – the first four skippers gathered for a press conference right after the finish of Leg 5 yesterday in Brazil. Here’s what they said.

“I got the sailing bug when I was eight years old. My parents didn’t sail but I went to the local sailing club, won a little prize and showed it at school. I thought it was pretty cool and I kept sailing” 
– Ian Walker, skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, leg winner and overall leader

Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

“In one hand it’s very difficult to change the people onboard, but at the same time it can be very good to have fresh ones. I saw that when I jumped onboard again (after missing two legs). I could see the team from the outside, it was the first time I could sit at home and think of what we could do to be better. It was very good, very positive” 
– Iker Martínez, skipper of MAPRE and second-placed in Itajaí

“The people on the breakwater, the people in the race village – it speaks for the passion this city has for the race. Going to Newport in the next leg will be a homecoming with a very supportive crowd. But that’s not to forget about the welcome here. It was an amazing reception in Itajaí – what a way to finish such a rough leg” 
– Charlie Enright, skipper of Team Alvimedica and third-placed in Itajaí, 1 minute and 16 seconds ahead of Team Brunel

“We have to congratulate Ian and the two other competitors. It’s been the best race EVER and I enjoyed it tremendously. The result sucks, but the race was great” 
– Bouwe Bekking, skipper of Team Brunel and fourth-placed in Itajaí

Vincent Arens / Volvo Ocean Race

Agathe Armand