Volvo Ocean Race - keep your friends close but your enemies closer
by Volvo Ocean Race on 4 Apr 2015
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - Volvo Ocean Race 2015 Matt Knighton/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
2014 - 15 Volvo Ocean Race - It’s a measure of how long the teams have been sailing in uncomfortably cold 5ºC water that they’re all highlighting how much they are enjoying the warmer seas. The grizzly conditions of the Southern Ocean are forgotten as the fleet sails north.
The reason for these tropical sea temperatures of 24ºC is that the fleet is sailing in the Brazil current flowing southwest against the boats’ track. This is throwing a short, sharp and confused sea condition that results in a very uncomfortable ride.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is sailing in their preferred upwind condition and has held their 5nm lead over the Spanish team Mapfre. We are back into AIS range as each team monitors the next. This will suit the Emirati boat just fine – as the old saying goes, keep your friends close but your enemies closer.
The leading boats are now following a clearer track. They’re beating north with what looks like one last tack to Itajaí. The winds are set to stay very settled. The whole fleet is on the same line; it’s a pure boatspeed game now.
Having damaged their J1, Team Brunel is not suffering from it yet, and even gaining 3nm on the leader in the last 12 hours.
Team SCA is making progress north and it will soon be their turn to enjoy the warm bath of the Brazilian current.
The last approach to Leg 5 finish line looks more confusing. With the fleet still so close, it’s not unreasonable to see place changing near the Brazilian coast.
The Estimated Time of Arrival into Itajaí is for late evening local time on Sunday, April five. But with the weather throwing some unpredictability, please keep watching our channels for an update.
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