Southern Ocean:

NEAL MCDONALD — Assa Abloy Racing Team: On whether he expected to be announced skipper of Assa Abloy: "No, I didn’t expect this at all. I would be lying if I said I thought that I would be skipper. It’s beginning to sink in a bit. I’m actually looking forward to going out there (Southern Ocean) and doing some sailing, rather than standing around on the shore."

GRANT DALTON — Amer Sports One: On looking forward to the Southern Ocean: "No not at all. I hate it. These guys are masochists if they like it. I’ll be pleased when we get to Sydney, frankly!"

KEVIN SHOEBRIDGE — Team Tyco: On Leg Two: "It is an interesting leg in that there is going to be two distinct parts to it. There’s the Southern Ocean leg, which is going to be a hang-on sort of leg, and we’re going to pile into the high pressure up by Western Australia and battle across the Australian Bight, so there are opportunities there for someone breaking through and getting away or a park-up. It could go either way."

These quotes originally appeared on Scuttlebutt, a free racing newsletter. Used by permission. To subscribe, go to www.boats.com. Follow progress of the Volvo Ocean Race online at www.volvooceanrace.org. The vessels departed on Leg Two for Sydney on Nov. 12.

By Ocean Navigator