Volvo Ocean Race - Dongfeng Race Team manages to separate from a cover

by Volvo Ocean Race on 8 Jun 2015 Volvo Ocean Race - Well, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is close covering Team Brunel. Team Brunel is close covering Team Alvimedica. MAPFRE is close covering Team Alvimedica. Team SCA is close covering Team Vestas Wind.

The only team that has managed to separate from a cover is Dongfeng Race Team, and that is because they fell off the back of the fleet at about 21:40 UTC last night.

At that time, the whole fleet hit a very complicated patch dominated by thunderstorms and lightning. Teams reported winds from conflicting directions, and that resulted in the tracker looking more like a child’s crayon drawing than a consistent sailing path.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing navigator Simon Fisher commented on how his team has spent days studying the route.

But the fun and games last night have basically stood all of that preparation on its head. The weather’s not doing what it said it was going to do.

The fleet has split into two packs. The smaller group to the east is lead by Team Vestas Wind, who are fighting with SCA.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing has come out on top of the westerly pack. The two are only 12 nm apart but with the winds playing microclimate games that’s enough to see big variations in boat speed and headings.

They may close up again today, as each team tries to consolidate its position.

The returning team of Team Vestas Wind had a fantastic sched position report, going from last to first.

Today's weather

Synopsis
1) It will be slow going today with light winds near and south of low pressure now near 41n/10w, but
2) As this low shifts more E tonight, there will be some breeze from NW
a) max to 10 kts or low teens, then
3) As fleet gets more N of this low/trough, there will be a stronger NE flow, mainly north of 42N
4) In between the low/trough and stronger high pressure (1040+ mb) further N, there will be a strong NE flow off northern Spain coast into southern Bay of Biscay
a) rough conditions with NE wind to 30-45+ kts
b) seas will be up to 10-15 ft from NE
5) Strongest NE winds off Cape Finistere to 44 30w, then slightly lighter further to N and E
6) The high weakens some during Tue PM/night into Wed, while low pressure resides to S into Spain and to the E into France
7) Do think the NE flow diminishes some, especially more E and NE closer to Lorient during Tue PM/night into Wed
a) wind speeds down to the 20s, then
b) wind could be down to <20 kts off Lorient, but chance for squally conditions

Weather
1) Low pressure (only about 1015 mb) is located near 41n/10w, while strong high pressure (1040+ mb) resides just W of the Ireland coast
2) Winds are quite light and variable near and south of this low, mainly south of 41 30n
3) To north of this low, there is a much stronger NE flow off Cape Finistere into southern Bay of Biscay
a) wind speeds to 30-40+ kts, which
b) seas will be quite rough, possible to 10-15 ft
4) Light wind into the PM, but
5) As the low shifts E into interior Portugal/Spain, there will be a slightly from NW breeze
a) wind speeds to 10 kts or possible low teens, but
6) Much stronger NE flow pushes down to just N of 42N tonight
7) With the low pressure in area, there is some cloudiness with scattered squally showers around
a) Activity mostly near 40-41N, moving NW
b) Locally higher gusts near any heavier showers/squalls

Variable cloudiness to cloudy with scattered squally showers around.

Seas 3-6 ft N-NE swell daytime, building to 8-11 ft from N to N-NE off Cape Finisterre tonight

Leader: Team Vestas Wind
Wind speed: 7 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 1.5 – 7.7 knots
Wind direction: 049º - 171º
Lowest boat speed: SCA (1.5 knots)
Highest boat speed: TBRU (7.7 knots)
Lowest wind speed: SCA (3.8 knots)
Highest wind speed: TBRU (8.4 knots)