Volvo Ocean Race - En route to the North Atlantic Ocean

by Team Brunel - Robbert-Jan Metselaar on 20 Apr 2015 2014 - 15 Volvo Ocean Race - Team Brunel has embarked with extremely light conditions on the sixth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15. The 5,010 mile (9,200 km) long route will take the six sailing teams from Itajaí to the American harbour of Newport, Rhode Island. “We can still win, but that will depend on the other teams,' says Bouwe Bekking.

The Dutch skipper does not expect much wind during the first section of the leg to Rio de Janeiro. “We generally sail under relatively light weather conditions when heading north from Itajaí. What counts is to pick up the south-easterly trade wind as quickly as possible. You pass the equator just after the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, followed by the doldrums. It will be relatively simple to pass through the doldrums this time around, because we're reasonably far to the west.

The two prevailing trade winds don't really meet here, but rather just about touch, and the weather is also influenced by the land. After the doldrums, we'll pick up the north-easterly trade wind. We'll then be reaching up towards the Caribbean, and the question is whether to pass Bermuda to the west or the east. The following tactical decision to be made is whether to stay out at sea and sail to Newport from the east. After all, the longer you stay out east, the better the wind. The alternative is to sail slightly closer to the US coast. That way, you benefit from the strong gulf stream, but the route to Newport is longer.”

The warm gulf stream is an important conveyor of relatively warm water in the Atlantic Ocean. This ocean current begins in the Gulf of Mexico and flows at a rate of around four knots along the coast of America to the north, bending east approximately 100 miles from Newport. If the wind is blowing against the direction of the current, the waves can be pretty big.”

“We can still win, but that will depend on the other teams. For the time being, we need to concentrate on winning legs and try to end up as high as possible in the general rankings. The focus is on second place at the moment, and if for any reason Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing were to enjoy a slightly less successful leg, the race would be completely open again.'

Due to Dirk de Ridder not being able to sail the sixth leg because of other commitments, Bouwe Bekking has called in the assistance of the Spanish sailor Javier de la Plaza. “Around 20 days ago, Bouwe sent me an e-mail asking whether I could replace Dirk for the Newport leg. I didn’t have to think long. I replied within a minute,” says Javier de la Plaza in Itajaí. “There's a fantastic atmosphere in the team. As far as the sailors are concerned, I only know Bouwe and Pablo Arrarte. I sailed on the VO65 for the first time last Thursday. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a boat on which you're trying to win a race. I know how all the systems on board work by now. Although I'm actually specialised in trimming headsails, I'll also be involved in steering and trimming the mainsail during this leg. Together with the other guys, I'm going to do my best to be first over the finish line in Newport.

The fleet is expected to arrive in Newport around 6 May. The twelfth edition of the former Whitbread Round the World Race counts ten legs and one so-called 24-hour pit stop in Scheveningen. The seven VO65 yachts will finish the race in the Swedish city of Gothenburg at the end of July, after having covered around 38,739 nautical miles (68,500 kilometres).