Volvo Ocean Race - Going north to be faster south

by Sail-World.com on 12 Feb 2015 Volvo Ocean Race Leg 4, Sanya China to Auckland New Zealand.

Yesterday Team SCA broke away from the pack immediately after a position sked, to give her maximum separation from the other boats before they discovered her course. Brunel within AIS range followed suit. They headed north and are now 150nm from the leading pck

Gonzalo Infante, VOR resident meteorologist in Alicante explains why ... its about wind and current.

'The first principle is that after the Luzon Strait, the new stronger breeze will come from the north.

'The next principle is that with New Zealand to the south, there are weather transitions of less, but more confused, winds to break through. Typically and historically there are stronger trade winds to the east.

'The third principle that plays on the navigator’s minds is history. Many of the sailors that have raced this route before will remember the story of the tortoise and the hare.'

Not sure if that was the right reference but in 2011/12, Puma sailed hundreds of miles north and east faster and further then the fleet to get first north for the stronger winds, then east for the stronger doldrums crossing.

Ken Read and his PUMA team then piled downwind passing boats way to their west. They caught all but one boat, Groupama.

Guess who was the navigator on Telefonica (The boat furthest west)? Yes that’s right - Andrew Cape. Make a mistake once but never twice!

So back to the race in hand, now you understand why Brunel, with Andrew Cape calling the shots, is taking the northern route.

Even the rest of the fleet are now plugging north to escape the confused light zone to the south east of them. Abu Dhabi who were leading the southern fleet, are now in three knots of wind from 236º, while 155 nm away, SCA and Brunel are in 18 knots and blasting along with breeze from 018º.

It looks certain that Brunel and SCA will make some good gains to the east and be in stronger winds that should then help them sail down and around the rest of the fleet (as per PUMA).

The big question is, will the transition play ball and play out as it should and reward Brunel and SCA, or will it go against the story of the last edition and go easy on the main pack?

That’s the complex bit Gonzalo Infante referred to - and why this leg will continue to provide some nightmares for the six navigators.