Volvo Ocean Race – The fleet closes up

by Volvo Ocean Race on 3 Apr 2015 Volvo Ocean Race – In the race field the front bunch is now sailing in more breeze after a day of calm breezes. They now have big breeze, with 25 knots of wind speed and gusts of 30 knots. The new northwesterly breeze came after shifting from the east around 2000 UTC.

Amory Ross: “Now it’s blowing 26 again and we’re back in our harnesses, back in our merinos (and at last set of fresh socks!), back to the upwind grind that has become these final days.”

“The South Atlantic has proven to be complicated and volatile, and the constantly shifting weather systems have made it tough to adjust with so many changes to sails, weather, and course.”

MAPFRE in second and being the most westerly, have closed the 40 miles gauge on the rest of the teams since the fleet tacked with the shift. They have been sailing a lower angle and now just 10 miles of lateral separation separates them from the rest.

650 miles behind the peloton, Team SCA have got 16 knots of breeze from the southwest and should be able to get the A3 up. For Sam Davies’ crew, the wind shifted from the northwest around 0000 UTC. They will see the wind increasing in a range of 35-50 knots and large seas.

Dongfeng Race Team is moving again. The red boat cast off from Ushuaia at 1040 UTC and is on its way east through the Beagle Channel. The delivery crew has got 1900 miles ahead before they get to Itajaí.

Leader: ADOR
Wind speed: 24 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 17 knots
Wind direction: 281º - 325º
Lowest boat speed: SCA (15 knots)
Highest boat speed: MAPF (18.2 knots)
Lowest wind speed: SCA (18 knots)
Highest wind speed: TBRU (26 knots)

Position report at: 03 Apr 03:40 UTC / Updated 3 hourly		DTL (NM)	GAIN/LOSS (NM)	DTF (NM)	Speed (kt)
	Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing	0	0	665.5	17
	MAPFRE	5.8	0	671.3	18
	Team Alvimedica	7.5	1	673	17
	Team Brunel	15.2	1	680.7	17
	Team SCA	667.1	6	1332.6	15
	Dongfeng Race Team	RETIRED
	Team Vestas Wind	DID NOT START