Barcelona World Race – Gains and losses continue

by Barcelona World Race on 10 Mar 2011 Barcelona World Race - We Are Water resumed racing from Wellington yesterday evening.

Jaume Mumbrú and Cali Sanmarti (ESP) have repaired the spinnaker damaged earlier in the race, as well as fixing the problems generated by rough seas and subsequent water ingress as they attempted to cross the Tasman Sea on their approach to Cook Strait. Prior to rejoining the race Mumbrú praised the FNOB shore team led by Stu Mclachlan and vowed that their goal was to successfully complete their circumnavigation and get back to sailing to the boat’s potential. The pair is around 1900 miles behind 10th-placed Forum Martim Catala this evening.

Meanwhile, as one boat cast off, another tied up, with Groupe Bel arriving in Ushuaia around 1745 this evening. Kito de Pavant (FRA) reported that the boat was safely moored after crossing the Beagle Channel, and that they had received a 'tremendous' welcome in Argentina. The seventh-placed team are investigating problems to their keel.

Out on the course the fastest boat this evening was third-placed Renault Z.E, who have extended by 30 miles away from Neutrogena over the course of the day. Gaes Centros Auditivos are also showing 14-plus knots and have gained 50 miles on eighth placed Hugo Boss over the past 24 hours. But the closest pairing currently is Estrella Damm and Mirabuad (5th), with just 11 miles separating the Spanish all-stars from Michele Paret (FRA) and Dominque Wavre (SUI).

Meanwhile at the front of the fleet the small, but important gains and losses continue, with Mapfre currently 156 miles adrift of race leaders Virbac-Paprec 3, a loss of over 20 miles over the course of this Barcelona World Race website