In terms of straight line distance to the finish, Telefónica have edged in front of PUMA´s Mar Mostro as the pair continue to dive south to avoid the St Helena High, a huge light wind zone blocking their path to the finish line in South Africa. Getting south is the main priority in order to try to hitch a lift on a large developing cold front that could catapult them to the Leg 1 finish in Cape Town.
The leading pair have been neck-and-neck since day oneReaching the cold front first could transform the narrowest of advantages – -- into an unassailable lead. Valuable miles are up for grabs as the leaders trade off short-term tactics against long term strategy.
At 1322 UTC, Telefónica's more easterly track put them nine nautical miles closer to the finish line of the 6,500-nm first leg and travelling at 16 knots, two knots quicker than PUMA, who are further to the southeast.
“We’re into the South Atlantic and it’s all a different kettle of fish, a different ball game,” said Team Telefónica navigator Andrew Cape. “We’ve got to find our way around a few obstacles. The weather right now is looking pretty good for us. There’s also a few opportunities for us to exploit and get in front of PUMA and get in there first. That’s the game, that’s the goal, what we must do and what we will do.”
Currently the St Helena High is split into two systems by the South Atlantic Convergence Zone according to race meteorologist Gonzalo Infante.
Telefónica and PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG must skirt around the windless convergence zone while still pushing as far south as possible in search of the powerful westerly cold front that could fire them to Cape Town.
It is in this section of the leg where the IWC Schaffhausen 24-hour Speed Record Challenge could be won. A tilt at the current monoholl record, which was set when Ericsson 4 completed 596.6 nautical miles in 24 hours on the last race, could even be possible.
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Chris Nicholson was also looking further down the race track. With 152 nm separating them from the leaders, Nicholson said his third-placed team were waiting to pounce on potential opportunities.
“The tactics from here are to try to wait for an opportunity and not try to force something that isn’t there,” he said. “There are a lot of miles to go. We need to be sensible about it. If there’s a ridge or a big weather system then we might have a chance to get back in the game. That’s all we want – a chance.”
Fourth-placed Groupama sailing team pulled back over 60 miles in 24 hours as they took advantage of the stable south-easterly trade winds found just south of the Equator.
“We’re starting to align our chess pieces in the strategic battle of the South Atlantic Ocean,” bowman Brad Marsh said. “With one Atlantic crossing and the Equator crossing now complete we are looking forward to turning left, aim our bow towards Cape Town.”
Now past the halfway stage in the leg, and after 13 days of eating freeze-dried food and washing with wet wipes, thoughts of home comforts have started to creep into the minds of the sailors.
“Dreams of Coca-Cola, chocolate, beer and large steaks are starting to develop in the back of our minds,” Marsh added.
Position Report Time: Friday, 18 November 2011, 16:03:15 UTC
1 Team Telefónica, DISTANCE TO FINISH 2920.1 Nm (BOAT SPEED 17 KTS)
2 PUMA Ocean Racing by BERG, DISTANCE TO LEADER 21.60 Nm (11.9 KTS)
3 CAMPER with Emirates Team NZ, 156.10 Nm (17.1 KTS)
4 Groupama Sailing Team, 368.10 Nm (17.3 KT)
From : Volvo Ocean Race
Credit : Hamish Hooper/CAMPER ETNZ/Volvo
The leading pair have been neck-and-neck since day oneReaching the cold front first could transform the narrowest of advantages – -- into an unassailable lead. Valuable miles are up for grabs as the leaders trade off short-term tactics against long term strategy.
At 1322 UTC, Telefónica's more easterly track put them nine nautical miles closer to the finish line of the 6,500-nm first leg and travelling at 16 knots, two knots quicker than PUMA, who are further to the southeast.
“We’re into the South Atlantic and it’s all a different kettle of fish, a different ball game,” said Team Telefónica navigator Andrew Cape. “We’ve got to find our way around a few obstacles. The weather right now is looking pretty good for us. There’s also a few opportunities for us to exploit and get in front of PUMA and get in there first. That’s the game, that’s the goal, what we must do and what we will do.”
Currently the St Helena High is split into two systems by the South Atlantic Convergence Zone according to race meteorologist Gonzalo Infante.
Telefónica and PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG must skirt around the windless convergence zone while still pushing as far south as possible in search of the powerful westerly cold front that could fire them to Cape Town.
It is in this section of the leg where the IWC Schaffhausen 24-hour Speed Record Challenge could be won. A tilt at the current monoholl record, which was set when Ericsson 4 completed 596.6 nautical miles in 24 hours on the last race, could even be possible.
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Chris Nicholson was also looking further down the race track. With 152 nm separating them from the leaders, Nicholson said his third-placed team were waiting to pounce on potential opportunities.
“The tactics from here are to try to wait for an opportunity and not try to force something that isn’t there,” he said. “There are a lot of miles to go. We need to be sensible about it. If there’s a ridge or a big weather system then we might have a chance to get back in the game. That’s all we want – a chance.”
Fourth-placed Groupama sailing team pulled back over 60 miles in 24 hours as they took advantage of the stable south-easterly trade winds found just south of the Equator.
“We’re starting to align our chess pieces in the strategic battle of the South Atlantic Ocean,” bowman Brad Marsh said. “With one Atlantic crossing and the Equator crossing now complete we are looking forward to turning left, aim our bow towards Cape Town.”
Now past the halfway stage in the leg, and after 13 days of eating freeze-dried food and washing with wet wipes, thoughts of home comforts have started to creep into the minds of the sailors.
“Dreams of Coca-Cola, chocolate, beer and large steaks are starting to develop in the back of our minds,” Marsh added.
Position Report Time: Friday, 18 November 2011, 16:03:15 UTC
1 Team Telefónica, DISTANCE TO FINISH 2920.1 Nm (BOAT SPEED 17 KTS)
2 PUMA Ocean Racing by BERG, DISTANCE TO LEADER 21.60 Nm (11.9 KTS)
3 CAMPER with Emirates Team NZ, 156.10 Nm (17.1 KTS)
4 Groupama Sailing Team, 368.10 Nm (17.3 KT)
From : Volvo Ocean Race
