Volvo Ocean - Still think you could be an Onboard Reporter?

Humidity, sea-sicknesses, extremes of heat and cold – but apart from that, life as an Onboard Reporter is fine, according to Volvo Ocean Race’s Pedro Freitas, who took on the role for MAPFRE's transatlantic challenge. If you think you want to do this for the nine months of the next edition of the race, then you should definitely read this first.

On board the rebranded Telefónica Volvo Open 70, the Spanish crew successfully set a new mark on the Christopher Columbus 'Discovery of the Americas' Route from Spain to the Bahamas. But was it a successful trip for the Onboard Reporter?

“What the Onboard Reporter candidates see is not the reality,” Pedro reported by telephone at the end of the MAPFRE's successful atlantic crossing. "The reality is much tougher."

Aged 25, Pedro usually works for the TV and photo department at Volvo Ocean Race headquarters in Alicante. With both journalistic and sailing experience, his profile fit the job description well yet he admits he was not quite ready for the scale of the task.

"The Onboard Reporters need to be prepared physically and mentally,” he said. “It’s a tough world. The funny thing is, for these guys this record attempt is just a normal trip. This is not even the race. They told me the whole time it’s three times harder during the Volvo!”

Through all the humidity, the seasickness, the alternating cold and heat and the sheer physical trauma, the Onboard Reporters must deliver top quality multimedia material every day at sea. The job is not for the faint hearted.

"It’s tough to take the same work you do in an office and try to do it here," said Pedro. "Every task you do takes five times longer.

“It’s not impossible but you need to be prepared, you need to sail a lot, you need to do the job as much as you can. You need practice, training and to be with the crew.”

Pedro has both Portuguese and Venezuelan nationalities and speaks perfect Spanish. His background helped him to integrate with a Spanish team gathered around Olympic champion Fernando Echávarri.

“It’s not a job where you jump onboard and start shooting. That’s not enough. You need to get to know how they live, think and do things. You need to get to know the team and be part of them.”

If you still think you've got what it takes to do Pedro’s job, you are a determined and skilled team player with a track record as a storyteller, there's still time to apple. Please send a cover letter and resumé to reporters@volvooceanrace.com.