As leader Team Telefónica and second placed PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, both begin to thread their way between two light wind weather systems -- the South Atlantic Convergence Zone and the larger St Helena High – over the next 24-hours, it is likely the fleet will compress, potentially opening up a chance for third placed CAMPER to move within striking distance of the top two boats.
While the timing of this stronger wind weather system looks likely to benefit the first three boats, fourth placed Groupama sailing team who lag more than 300 nautical miles behind could miss out and may have to sail extra miles in order to position themselves for the run in to Cape Town.
Around the fleet the crews are transitioning from the sweltering conditions they have endured since crossing the Equator, to the increasingly cooler and windier weather of the South Atlantic.
On board the leader Team Telefónica, watch captain Neal McDonald says the extra wind and drop in air temperature has made for wetter conditions on deck but also brought some welcome relief for the off watch sailors.
“The boat is charging along nicely in the extra pressure meaning we are under water on deck a lot more. The drop in temperature makes it much easier to sleep down below, but I think in the next few days we will go from too hot to too cold.”
McDonald beleives navigator Andrew Cape has positioned Telefónica perfectly in relation to both the weather systems and the fleet and says the crew are well prepared for the high adrenaline conditions they expect to encounter within the next two days.
At the 1300 UTC position report all four boats were sailing in fresh breezes and averaging speeds over 20-knots.
Team Telefónica held a 20 nautical mile lead over second placed PUMA with CAMPER in third around 89 nautical miles back. Fourth placed Groupama were a further 225 nautical miles adrift.
From : Volvo Ocean Race
Credit : A. Ross / Puma / VOR
Ahead of the fleet lies an easterly moving cold front which could finally present the boats with an opportunity break off their southerly route and turn their bows towards the finish line in Cape Town.
While the timing of this stronger wind weather system looks likely to benefit the first three boats, fourth placed Groupama sailing team who lag more than 300 nautical miles behind could miss out and may have to sail extra miles in order to position themselves for the run in to Cape Town.
Around the fleet the crews are transitioning from the sweltering conditions they have endured since crossing the Equator, to the increasingly cooler and windier weather of the South Atlantic.
On board the leader Team Telefónica, watch captain Neal McDonald says the extra wind and drop in air temperature has made for wetter conditions on deck but also brought some welcome relief for the off watch sailors.
“The boat is charging along nicely in the extra pressure meaning we are under water on deck a lot more. The drop in temperature makes it much easier to sleep down below, but I think in the next few days we will go from too hot to too cold.”
McDonald beleives navigator Andrew Cape has positioned Telefónica perfectly in relation to both the weather systems and the fleet and says the crew are well prepared for the high adrenaline conditions they expect to encounter within the next two days.
At the 1300 UTC position report all four boats were sailing in fresh breezes and averaging speeds over 20-knots.
Team Telefónica held a 20 nautical mile lead over second placed PUMA with CAMPER in third around 89 nautical miles back. Fourth placed Groupama were a further 225 nautical miles adrift.
From : Volvo Ocean Race
