Volvo Ocean Race - Constant change for Team Alvimedica

by Amory Ross, Team Alvimedica on 30 Oct 2014 Team Alvimedica OBR Amory Ross reports on the crew’s progress in the Volvo Ocean Race.

Even in the 'straight-line' sailing that has dominated the last portion of the race, the dynamic of our fleet position has been in a state of constant change. We haven’t broken from the long port tack for days—some of the teams have jibed—but depending on our desired heading and our sail choice, we’ve been able to gradually work one way or another, east or west, to dictate our lane assignment approaching the corner of this high-pressure system.

The game is pretty straightforward. Between Cape Town and us there is a massive High, a huge area of light winds that we must avoid. To the south you have the persistent westerly winds and a conveyer belt of 'Lows,' strong systems ready to roll east towards South Africa at great speed. Much as we’d all like to point the bow to the barn, we have to skirt the edge of this high and jibe to get south—much farther south than Cape Town—before committing east to the finish.

Like Icarus who flew too close to the sun, it’s tempting to cut the corner now but the fear is running out of wind. If you sail too close to the high you may never have the wind to get south. Stay far away to the west and your racetrack gets considerably longer, albeit far windier; you get south sooner, but have a much farther distance to sail east. We’ve opted for somewhere in the middle mostly because it leaves us with options, with the ability to hedge one way or another depending on how the High shifts. It will be a very important 24 hours as the steady turn around the High continues. At some point everyone will have to jibe south and we’ve all basically made our bets. It’s about time to lay the cards down on the table! Critical days ahead. Team Alvimedica website