Volvo Ocean Race - Fleet splits at first tidal gate
by Rob Kothe on 17 Jun 2015
June 14,2015. The start of Leg 9 from Lorient to Gothenburg via the Hague; Dongfeng Race Team Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race
A moderating breeze through the hours of darkness slowed the fleet at they approached the Pointe du Raz on the western tip of France.
The Raz also brings the first major tide gate of this ninth leg. At 0300 UTC the tide started to run south between mainland France and the Ile de Sein, where a gap of only 3.4 nautical miles (less than 1.8nm avoiding the rocky extensions) will greet the fleet with up to 8 knots of tide.
With the wind deceasing earlier than thought, there had been a split in the fleet as Team SCA chose to stay close to the shore thinking they will sail less distance but slower than the rest of the fleet who have all sailed much further offshore to go around the outside of the island.
It was a risky move for the magenta team to split from the fleet, however as I am writing now the girls look like they’re making good progress head on into the tide.
Meanwhile all the other boats headed due east and while there was a small backing of the wind by 20º, they have born off a little more to help punch through the ripping tide as they did a 8nm detour to the west of the island and rocks.
Despite the numbers above, in the past 30 minutes since the last position report Team SCA has moved up in to first place. Time will tell who the big winners and losers will be!
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