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So who's behind the tide of blue supporting Team Telefónica?

On the day of the start at Alicante a tide of bright blue invaded the area surrounding the mooring where “Telefónica” and her crew anxiously waited to cast off and kick off the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012. It wasn't just the bright colour, the Spanish flags and messages of support that made the blue tide identifiable from afar, but they could be heard from quite a distance too with their energetic chants in support of Team Telefónica. The “Telefan” phenomenon was taking off...

38 people are behind this movement: family and friends from across the North of Spain of Antonio “Ñeti” Cuervas Mons, “Telefónica”s Bowman. Friends from the towns and cities of Ribadeo, Oviedo and of course his native Santander, and many of them from the Real Club Naútico Santander, the coastal city's yacht club where Ñeti cut his sailing teeth.

These “Telefans” are a group stirring up excitement wherever they go and who have one clear aim: “To support “Toñín””, as they affectionately refer to Cuervas-Mons. The brains and coordination behind the group, Sofia Cuervas-Mons, the Spanish Bowman's sister fills us in further: “That extends to the entire crew, of course. We want to give them a boost and make them feel supported during the very tough times they go through in a regatta like this”.

A group with a lot of history
Despite what many my think, the “Telefan” phenomenon has been around for three years now. It all began in the previous edition of the Volvo Ocean Race when Ñeti made his début in the round the world regatta on board “Telefónica Black”. “The idea came up whilst we were on a beach in Ribadeo, Galicia (Spain). We were with our group of friends in the town where we spend our summers and where Toño (as Ñeti his known to his family) first tried sailing out. We decided that we wanted to celebrate the fact that one of the kids who'd started sailing in the Ribadeo estuary had got so far...”, explains Sofia.

So that's where the “Blackyfans”, as they were known back then, were born. Not only did they make their presence felt at the start in Alicante in 2008 but they caused quite a stir and managed to surprise “Neti” himself, as well as the rest of the crew. “It was a complete surprise to Toño, who couldn't quite believe what we'd organised and the distances people had travelled to be there to see him off”.

The movement even pushed beyond Spanish borders, as Sofia Cuervas-Mons explains: “In that edition we also went to Boston, Galway, Stockholm and Saint Petersburg, with our catchphrase 'I'm a Blacky too' and we tried to spread the fever as far as we could and we did a great job! The experience in that last round the world race was so good that on the same beach this summer we got down to organising this start”.

T shirts, accessories, signage, chants and above all, organisation
The difference lies always in experience, and thanks to the group's experience in the previous edition, in August this year, the “Telefans” were already busy organising the November 5th start in Alicante. “We had a definite advantage this time as we knew what we needed and what roles each person would play in the organisation”, says Ñeti's older sister.

“Raúl Lombo is in charge of designing the T shirts. Marga and Cris Echevarría, who are sisters, are in charge of making signs and composing our songs. My mother is our seamstress and accessory designer and Lucas Sarabia, Santi, my other brother and myself are all in charge of coordinating”. It's all under control and we've got a group of 40.

Under control it is! Wherever there's a “Telefan” a specially composed song can be heard about Ñeti, although usually including a verse or two about other crew members or “about the crew as a whole”, says the Bowman's sister. “We usually adapt well known songs, changing the lyrics to words written by the Echevarría sisters. Perhaps the most successful chant this year so far has been “Yo soy Telefan” (which is Spanish for 'I'm a Telefan' and imitates the chant by Spanish football supporters at the World Cup who would shout 'Yo soy Español'). It's really simple, but it's one of those things you have to think about first and people have to find catchy”.

Social networking has played a big part in getting things organised and of course, the “Telefans” have their own Facebook group, which Santi Cuervas-Mons, Ñeti's little brother created a few months ago. “By using it we've been able to really get organised for the start and now we can put our photos up there and keep up to date with the race news and organise our trips etc.”.

Following Team Telefónica's progress as it happens
The “Telefans” don't let the tiniest detail slip when it comes to tracking the progress of their team. They are hooked up to mobile applications with position reports, to news published on the Team Telefónica website and other social networking platforms, as well as to the Spanish version of the Volvo Ocean Race website... “Yes, you might say that this year we won't be as productive at work as we might have been... We are constantly checking the racing news and are especially on alert for news about our team!”, jokes Sofia.

This 'tracking' goes beyond the web and yet again the movement will push beyond Spanish borders, as Sofia reveals, with “Telefans” popping up at ports along the route, “There will be more of us at different destination ports. Many people didn't make the start, but already have their tickets for the finish in Galway and for the legs in between, although we are not going to unveil our plans, so it will be a surprise. We can't be at all of them, mostly because our pockets don't reach as far as all of the legs!”.

“During the last Volvo Ocean Race in order to be at the leg stopovers we did our own 'living at the extreme' with some of the hostels we stayed at. Our budget didn't stretch to normal hotels with so many stopovers, so we sacrificed a few creature comforts... It's something we are prepared to do in this edition too”, highlights the brains behind the “Telefans” phenomenon.

“We “Telefans” are just people lucky enough to have great friends and family who love Ñeti so much. We know that us being there really gives him a boost, but we'd also like him to know that we love being there too and we have a great time. As his big sister I can say that I didn't even shed a tear when he set off... well, maybe a couple, but it was such a fun time and we were so happy that we didn't even think that we might not be seeing Toño for a few months”, says Sofia.

From here at Team Telefónica we couldn't but dedicate a few lines to the “Telefans” and we thank them for all of their support. They deserve it... Thank you “Telefans”!