Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing successfully fitted their replacement mast this morning and have re-launched Azzam ahead of a short test sail to check everything over. If things go well they could leave Alicante this evening to resume racing on the first leg to Cape Town. Team Sanya is getting ready to be loaded onto a Truck on Friday morning
This morning with the utmost care the shore crew and some members of the sailing team craned in the thirty-one and a half metre long carbon tube before beginning the painstaking task of attaching the complex lattice of supporting rigging lines. Team Sanya’s recent decision to retire from the first leg and ship their damaged boat to Cape Town, means that Abu Dhabi would score 10 valuable points if they are able complete the first leg.
Out in the Atlantic, all four boats have been sailing in unusually light winds since entering the Atlantic, giving Abu Dhabi a theoretical chance of closing the gap if they get away tonight.
However, the race’s chief meteorologist Gonzalo Infante believes the Abu Dhabi crew could be in for some tough conditions when they break out of the Mediterranean.
“Depending on when they leave, it could be a tough first day in the Atlantic for them. In their first 24-hours in the Atlantic they could face two windy low-pressure systems.”
Credit : Nick Dana/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
This morning with the utmost care the shore crew and some members of the sailing team craned in the thirty-one and a half metre long carbon tube before beginning the painstaking task of attaching the complex lattice of supporting rigging lines. Team Sanya’s recent decision to retire from the first leg and ship their damaged boat to Cape Town, means that Abu Dhabi would score 10 valuable points if they are able complete the first leg.
Out in the Atlantic, all four boats have been sailing in unusually light winds since entering the Atlantic, giving Abu Dhabi a theoretical chance of closing the gap if they get away tonight.
However, the race’s chief meteorologist Gonzalo Infante believes the Abu Dhabi crew could be in for some tough conditions when they break out of the Mediterranean.
“Depending on when they leave, it could be a tough first day in the Atlantic for them. In their first 24-hours in the Atlantic they could face two windy low-pressure systems.”
Having used their only spare mast so early in the nine-month race, Walker is understandably cautious about facing similar conditions to those which destroyed their original one.
"It’s a bit of a double-edged sword. It’s looking light in the Mediterranean but there’s quite a big depression in the Atlantic so it could be that we have similar conditions or even a bit more than we had when we broke the mast. It’s a good and bad thing. It could give us the confidence we need to carry on the journey but it will be nerve-wracking too."
Team Sanya is getting ready to be loaded on a Truck Friday
Sanya, still based in Motril, South of Spain for now, is getting ready to be loaded onto a Volvo Truck on Friday morning where she will be taken from Motril to the port in Gibraltar.
Once in Gibraltar, she will be loaded onto a Maersk Line ship and will depart on Sunday evening/Monday morning to make her speedy way to Cape Town – estimated arrival date for now is around 27th/28th November .
Walker also said he was undecided how hard to push for speed on the way to Cape Town. "We will have to see. We’re not fighting for every inch like we would with other boats around so we might throttle back but on the other hand if we can go full steam and get through that’s exactly the kind of confidence boost we need."
Team Sanya is getting ready to be loaded on a Truck Friday
Sanya, still based in Motril, South of Spain for now, is getting ready to be loaded onto a Volvo Truck on Friday morning where she will be taken from Motril to the port in Gibraltar.
Once in Gibraltar, she will be loaded onto a Maersk Line ship and will depart on Sunday evening/Monday morning to make her speedy way to Cape Town – estimated arrival date for now is around 27th/28th November .
Credits 1&2 : Nick Dana/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
Credit 3 : P. Todd / Volvo Ocean Race
Credit 3 : P. Todd / Volvo Ocean Race
