Daryl Wislang is competing in his fourth Volvo Ocean Race. Photo: Martin Keruzore/Volvo Ocean Race
Daryl Wislang is competing in his fourth Volvo Ocean Race. Photo: Martin Keruzore/Volvo Ocean Race
Daryl Wislang's sailing career started because he didn't get along with his brother.
With their mother a champion water skier and their father a champion sailor, they had been around the water from a young age. However as they grew older, the boys began to have "some very heated brotherly confrontations."
To combat this, their parents looked to find a way to make them work together. Because Craig was older than Daryl playing in the same team wasn't possible in most sports.
So their parents put them in a boat.
"We started off in a Sunburst two-person dinghy sailing with the three of us, Dad, Craig and myself," Wislang revealed in a blog post. "I was 11-years-old at the time and we both loved it and, while Dad was sailing with us as a mediator, there was no fights so the plan was working."
"Once we had learnt enough from Dad it was time for us to give it a go by ourselves. Well, the first few times on the water were very entertaining with one of us finishing at the bow and one at the stern, but the lesson here was that we still had to work together in some form to get us and the boat back to land. This is how Craig and I have built such a strong relationship today."
Peter Burling at the wheel in the rain. Photo: Yann Riou/Volvo Ocean Race
From there, the Nelson sailor went on to national glory in he sport before joining Wellington-based company Linton Sails as a sailmaker. It was there he had his first taste of offshore sailing – transporting a Ross 40 yacht about 3360km from Wellington to Australia's Hamilton Island.
And after a few days of battling 30-knot winds, during which his dinner forced its way back up his esophagus on more than one occasion, he had second thoughts about doing similar voyages in the future.
"I was so determined not to judge the trip until it was over. I really knew that it couldn't get any worse than this. I enjoyed that experience but was convinced that I would never sail offshore again - I would stick to inshore sailing."
That didn't last.
In 2005 he joined the Movistar crew as a sailmaker for the Volvo Ocean Race and now, 18 years after his maiden offshore voyage, he was taking part in the most gruelling offshore race the world has to offer for a fourth straight time.
"There are still times that I get seasick," he admitted, "but I have learnt how to control that now."
Bianca Cook at work aboard Turn the Tide on Plastic. Photo: James Blake/Volvo Ocean Race
Wislang, sailing with the DongFeng Race Team, was one of nine Kiwi sailors taking part in the2017-18 edition of the race, which was due to arrive in Auckland next week.
Since departing Hong Kong bound for Auckland on leg six of the race, the crews have faced 16 days of challenging and inconsistent conditions and, just after lunchtime on Friday, were sailing past New Caledonia - just over 2260km from New Zealand
Heading into the final stretch, Kiwi Bianca Cook's Turn the Tide on Plastic crew led the way, with fellow New Zealanders Brad Farrand and Justin Ferris (AzkoNobel), Kiwi-less Scallywag and Peter Burling's Brunel close behind.
Wislang's DongFeng crew, which included fellow Kiwi Stu Bannatyne, were trailing the pack about 114km from the leaders, with Blair Tuke and Louis Sinclair's MAPFRE just ahead of them.
Louis Sinclair takes his pillow out of the hatch because it's too hot to sleep below deck during leg six. Photo: Ugo Fonolla/Volvo Ocean Race
Vestas 11th Hour Racing were unable to take part in the leg due to damage sustained to their vessel in Hong Kong earlier in the race.
Team New Zealand cheif executive Grant Dalton knew what the Kiwis on-board would be experiencing as home shores grew closer, having competed in the race five times.
"For me the round the world race was always a race of two halves - racing and finishing into Auckland and the race to the finish after that," Dalton said.
"Every Kiwi that has done the race will know the desire to be the first boat into their home port of Auckland which has such a long and proud heritage as a stopover in the race."
"It is a race of unknowns. You can plan everything about each part of the race to the finest detail, but you can guarantee the unexpected will happen, and that is what's unique about the Volvo Ocean Race. Things won't always go your way and generally, the team that deals with the unexpected and can bounce back from adversity wins the race in the end."
The fleet were estimated to arrive at the race village on Auckland's Viaduct Harbour on February 27 and will be in town until March 18.
The race village opens to the public on February 24, giving Kiwis the opportunity to immerse themselves in the event – which is held every three years - with plenty of entertanment lined up.
A number of races will take place in Auckland during the stop over, including the in-port race on March 10 and a pro-am race on March 16.
February 24: Race Village opens on Auckland's Viaduct Harbour February 27: First of the fleet estimated to arrive March 9: Practice race 2pm March 10: In-port race 2pm March 16: Pro-Am Race 2pm March 17: Volvo Ocean 65 Boat Tours March 18: Sailors parade and dock out ceremony 12pm. Fleet departs Auckland at 2pm. Race village closes to public.
Kiwis on-board
AzkoNobel: Brad farrand (bowman) and Justin Ferris (helsman/sail trimmer) Brunel: Peter Burling (helmsman/trimmer) DongFeng: Darly Wislang (watch captain) and Stu Bannatyne (crew) MAPFRE: Blair Tuke (trimmer/helmsman) and Louis Sinclair (crew) Turn the Tide on Plastic: Bianca Cook (crew) Vestas 11th Hour Racing: Tony Mutter (crew) On-board reporter: James Blake (currently with Turn the Tide on Plastic)
Main entertainment
February 24: Sons of Zion 9pm-10pm March 3: Q&A session with Peter Burling and Blair Tuke 3pm-4pm; Che Fu and the Crates 9pm-10pm March 10: Jordan Luck Band 9pm-10pm March 17: Elemeno P 9pm-10pm More information here
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