Volvo Ocean Race – Dongfeng leads to step up into the mix
by Volvo Ocean Race on 4 May 2015
Onboard Dongfeng Race Team – Full moon rising - Leg six to Newport – Volvo Ocean Race Sam Greenfield / Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race – Normally when I sit down to write the Watch Log, I start with some notes jotted down over the last few hours and translate it a very stable synopsis of the race. Tonight my words will be already old by the time I finish the report, so it’s best to just tune into the dashboard for the gains and losses.
This instability is due to the fleet arriving at a much-anticipated transition from the tropical warm air and the colder typical climate of the northern hemisphere. Meteorologically, this is the equivalent of the fleet walking from a warm room into a cold one with all the windows open. Adjustments will be made, and more than just pulling out some warmer clothing. The fleet may be shuffled too.
Dongfeng is leading and was first to step up into the mix. Charles Caudrelier’s men took a bold move earlier today and gybed out away from the pack to be further right as the wind shifted with them, letting them down on port. This allowed them to sail less distance and make good miles to the finish. As Charles comments below, he wishes they had sailed further.
“Last night I was bouncing around the chart table convinced that the whole fleet was too far south, and anyone daring to gybe to the north could make a big gain. No-one moved. With a bit of audacity, we finally decided to gybe. After 20 minutes on starboard gybe we couldn’t take it anymore and gybed back to our friends. This morning the gain was however quite significant, more than five miles on Brunel and 10 on Abu Dhabi.
“Unfortunately this small lead will melt away this afternoon. In front of us is a huge cold front that we must cross, along with a full 180-degree rotation of the wind. A wall to climb over with very little wind and random squalls. Maybe the leg will be decided here. The first to cross and touch the new wind could really get away.”
Here Charles explains the next part of this watch log, introducing the full 180-degree rotation of the wind as they sail into a cold front to the north.
Right now, I see the speeds across the fleet ranging from Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing sailing at only six knots and Dongfeng charging along at over 12 knots. This may change in the next 10 minutes so best to see how it averages out and keep watching the tracker.
Leader: DFRT
Wind speed: 5 - 11 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 8 – 14.5 knots
Wind direction: 024º - 213º
Lowest boat speed: DFRT (8.1 knots)
Highest boat speed: SCA (14.5 knots)
Lowest wind speed: ADOR (five knots)
Highest wind speed: MAPF (11 knots)
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