Vestas 11th Hour Racing captain Charlie Enright spoke to Pell Elementary School sailing students via a live feed during a Facebook Live session at Volvo Ocean Race Newport on Thursday. Enright and his crew were racing towards Newport from Itajai, Brazil during Leg 8 during the live interview. Pell students conducted a live interview through their teachers.

Pell Elementary School: How does it feel to be winning this leg?

Charlie Enright: It feels good. Certainly better than the way we started. But we have a long way to go. The fleet is still spread out, but it feels good over these last few days.

Pell Elementary School: What is the weather like?

Charlie Enright: The weather is beautiful. It’s sunny, about 85 degrees. 12 knots of breeze. The breeze is coming from the East so we are on our starboard tack headed north towards you guys.

Pell Elementary School: We are impressed with your hard work and perseverance. We are happy to see you guys today.

Charlie Enright: Perseverance is certainly a big word for our team and a relevant word over the last couple of months. It’s been a lot of hard work that has a lot to do with getting us back on the water. It’s days like today where that feels pretty rewarding.

Pell Elementary School: We have been learning a lot about plastics and debris. What have you been seeing, good and bad, out in the ocean?

Charlie Enright: I’m happy to report that out on this leg, there hasn’t been that much. We’ve done a lot of miles in other parts of the world and it’s startling to see the amount of single use plastic, water bottles, plastic bags. We do get the odd truck tire floating in the middle of nowhere, but those are few and far between. The bigger things are just the common things that you and I use everyday. They somehow end up in the water.

Pell Elementary School: What about the positives?

Charlie Enright: About 24 hours ago we saw a pod of pilot whales. With their blow holes hooting water up in the air. That was pretty cool. We have seen some dolphins, some tuna. When we cross the equator we may see some sea turtles. We are very lucky to be able to do something that we love to do and be able to take in some of the beautiful things that nature has to offer.

Pell Elementary School: You are coming up to Newport from Brazil. When are you going to cross the equator?

Charlie Enright: Good question. I haven’t even looked yet.

Pell Elementary School: What was the roughest part of the ocean?

Charlie Enright: We sailed through the southern ocean twice. We had a pretty good stretch and big seas accompanied by big wind coming around cape horn heading towards Brazil.

Pell Elementary School: What is the first thing that you want to do when you get to newport?

Charlie Enright: I will probably hug and kiss my wife and kids and then promptly eat a cheeseburger.

Pell Elementary School: The Volvo Ocean Race sailboats are really fast. What is your boat’s top speed?

Charlie Enright: 35-40 knots. When we are going that speed, most of the time we are on the verge of being out of control.

Pell Elementary School: How is the weather changing as you cross the equator?

Charlie Enright: We are going to see some pretty good sailing. The weather will get more volatile as we head up North towards Newport.

Pell Elementary School: What is your favorite city, country?

Charlie Enright: Cape town South Africa
Pell Elementary School: What is the difference between a J22 sailboat and a Volvo Ocean Race 65?

Charlie Enright: The mechanics work the same, but I rather spend a month on a Volvo Ocean 65 than a J22.

Pell Elementary School: What is it like sailing at night?

Charlie Enright: It’s an interesting sensation. we continue to race the boat hard. visibility is limited but we can experience great views of the stars and the sky.

Follow Charlie, Team Vestas 11th Hour Racing and the entire Volvo Ocean Race at - www.volvooceanrace.com