Volvo Ocean Race - The fight to Cape Horn
by Volvo Ocean Race on 26 Mar 2015
Onboard MAPFRE - Sending it through the Southern Ocean - Volvo Ocean Race 2015 Francisco Vignale/Mapfre/Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race - Despite the fleet being separated by 80nm it all comes down to the new front forming in the next 12 hours which will power the boats on to Cape Horn.
The leading three boats are all positioned on the same line of longitude with only 15nm separating them east to west.
Mapfre, as the southernmost boat, has the most wind as they head directly to the ice limit. They will probably track the ice limit all the way until ice limit #8 where they will then sail downwind in a new front.
The wind has tracked right all day pointing the boats more directly at the ice limit. This will benefit the northern boats as they will be headed out on a good angle, but if the wind comes in from the south we could see Dongfeng Race Team and Mapfre making nice gains.
At 1200 UTC Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and its crew were the furthest people from land on the planet, sailing only 17.5nm from Point Nemo, with Team Alvimedica further south.
Team SCA was first to gybe at 1830 but have to rely on the front filling in from behind to allow them to catch up - and at the time of writing, Mapfre has just gybed, too.
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