Team Mowgli losing ground in Portimao Global Ocean Race

by Oliver Dewar on 11 Jun 2009
With the Portimão Global Ocean Race leaders approaching the Leg 5 Scoring Gate, the divison within fleet is increasing as frontrunners, Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Beluga Racer experience predominantly reaching conditions and Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty battle against headwinds.

Over the past 24 hours, the Chilean duo of Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz on Desafio Cabo de Hornos have extended their lead over Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer by just over 20 miles with the Chilean Class 40 leading by 96 miles in the Thursday 0620 UTC position poll as the German team hold the northern position to windward.

While the leaders make fast progress, the upwind boats are striving to punch through the North Atlantic. Holding third place in the double-handed fleet, Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson on Team Mowgli have dropped back from 300 miles to 384 miles behind the lead boat this morning as the British duo tack constantly in headwinds. For solo sailor Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty the conditions are toughest and the Belgian single-hander is now 131 miles due west of Salvesen and Thomson.

For the Chilean duo, there are approximately 120 miles remaining until crossing the scoring gate. 'I don’t want to alarm anybody, but we are close to the spot where the Titanic sank on that prophetic night between 11-12 of April in 1912,' noted Felipe Cubillos late on Wednesday. From the latest position report, Desafio Cabo de Hornos is approximately 160 miles south-east of the liner’s collision location while Beluga Racer, sailing further north, is around 120 miles from the site of the tragic disaster and as the boats climb north to reach the Leg 5 Scoring Gate south of the Grand Banks, the temperature is dropping rapidly. 'Tonight, the atmosphere has changed substantially,' confirms Cubillos. 'Until yesterday, we have been sailing in a fleece and a dinghy jacket, but now we have had to unpack the winter clothes that we haven’t touched since Cape Horn.'

With the drop in temperature and the legacy of the Titanic in mind, Cubillos and Muñoz have been monitoring the presence of ice in the area. 'I wanted to check the temperature of the water since that is a good indication of the chance of icebergs,' explains the Chilean skipper. 'But even that instrument isn’t working very well and we are already close to the ice limit restriction.' Currently Desafio Cabo de Hornos is 100 miles south of the Portimão Global Ocean Race Leg 5 Ice Limit at 41°N and although icebergs may have evaded the radar interrogation of the International Ice Patrol, the most recent ice alert update locates the presence of bergs in the region of 43°N - 49°W: north of the fleet and 120 miles north-east of the Titanic collision.

With the Chilean and German race leaders averaging 9.9 knots and 8.2 knots respectively, Cubillos and Muñoz have also been closely watching the speeds produced by Beluga Racer since Herrmann and Oehme reported damage to their upper port spreader. 'From the speed of the German boat it is apparent that they haven’t been affected by the damage to their mast,' explains Cubillos. 'With headwinds, they can use all their sails, without reefs in the main, and can sail on an equal footing with us,' he continues. 'These conditions will continue through until late on Saturday. After that, it’s hard to say. Where they have a problem is if they have to sail with open angles and the mainsail leans against the damaged spreader. Then there is a risk.'

On board Beluga Racer, the German duo have continued to strengthen the damaged spreader. 'Just to let you know, the mast looks incredibly stable and good since the part broke,' reported Boris Herrmann on Wednesday evening. 'We are very confident we will make it to Portimão without too big a delay,' he predicts. 'The biggest loss in performance is sailing downwind when we do not want to sit the main against the spreader and must reef early,' explains the German skipper, confirming the analysis of his Chilean rivals. 'As we have a bit of upwind and light stuff ahead, the injury will only become obvious later when we sail downwind again,' he adds.

With Oehme controlling the boat, Herrmann has spent extended periods aloft attempting to make a robust repair. 'The spreader’s internal connection in the mast is broken, but we have made some strong lashings to hold both spreaders in place,' he explains. 'Even with reduced sails and everything eased, it is impossible to push, or pull, or drive the spreader back into the mast.' Despite this setback, the Germans are highly optimistic. 'Don’t worry about us,' reassures Herrmann. 'We’re going well and keeping a close eye on things.'

For solo sailor, Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty, the reality of the distance to the double-handed fleet leaders is stark. 'Now I am really on my own out here,' he admitted late yesterday. 'Not that it matters a lot, but ego-wise it would of course be better if I was up with the leaders somewhere, but it is bit frustrating to see them keep flying away.' The distance has increased steadily since Roaring Forty and Team Mowgli ran into headwinds while Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Beluga Racer have experienced northerly breeze. 'I’ve been tacking solidly towards the scoring gate for the past 20 hours,' reports the Belgian yachtsman. 'Although this boat is good at it, it doesn't do a lot of good if the others are all reaching and as you can see, a little difference in distance at the beginning of the leg has grown into a huge one after six days.'

However, Kleinjans is pragmatic and positive about the future. 'There’s not much I can do to change the situation other than remain patient and wait for the wind to come from a better angle.' Fortunately, when the wind does provide offwind sailing, Roaring Forty will be in optimum condition to sail fast. 'My repair to the bobstay seems to work fine and I tested it yesterday,' he reports.