Volvo Ocean Race – Fleet waits for the right-hand shift

by Volvo Ocean Race on 24 Apr 2015

Leg 6 to Newport onboard Team Alvimedica. Day 03. Ryan Houston,Seb Marsset,and Nick Dana talk during a daytime watch in cloudy upwind conditions. Keeping yourself sharp during monotonous sailing often involves constant conversation. Conditions remain largely the same for the third consecutive day of upwind sailing east and away from a chasing cold front. - Volvo Ocean Race 2015 Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica

Volvo Ocean Race – As the fleet waits for the inevitable right-hand shift that the trade winds will bring, they have continued to plug northeast. But plugging on has not been as straightforward as some hoped.

The unstable cloud cover that has descended on the teams has offered opportunity for some, and frustration for others. The clouds bring rain that forces winds down and outwards - and that, if you’re in the right position, can give you a nice shove in the right direction.

Alternatively the wind drops and goes funky, you get rained on and sploosh, you're wet and going slow.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Team Alvimedica have been brave taking small tacks to the left. Their bravery has also been awarded with localised shifts in their favour.

The rest of the pack has chosen to continue to push east with the view of making maximum leverage when the elusive right-hand pressure arrives. Currently, Team Brunel have 22nm of separation on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

Although happy to be making gains on the left, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Team Alvimedica have good reason to be nervous of the right. Time will tell how exposed they are and how powerful the right ends up being. It shouldn’t be long now…

Leader: ADOR
Wind speed: 7.8-9.8 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 5.3-11.4 knots
Wind direction: 9º - 355°
Lowest boat speed: ALVI (6.1 knots)
Highest boat speed: TBRU (8.2 knots)
Lowest wind speed: DFRT (7.8 knots)
Highest wind speed: MAPF (9.8 knots)

Position report list

YACHT	LAT	LON	DATE	DTL	DTLC	avgSOG(3h)	avgSOG(15')	TWS	TWD	HDG
ALVI	-16.88330	-31.04350	4/24/2015 6:40	0.0	6.7	5.5	7.8	8.6	31	329
ADOR	-16.86226	-30.82853	4/24/2015 6:40	3.2	-3.2	7.1	7.8	6.1	11	72
MAPF	-16.94223	-30.69715	4/24/2015 6:40	10.5	7.4	6.2	8.4	7.9	352	65
SCA1	-16.96193	-30.57695	4/24/2015 6:40	14.2	-1.0	8.6	8.2	7.4	9	66
DFRT	-16.99001	-30.63720	4/24/2015 6:40	14.4	0.6	8.4	8.3	7.8	351	60
TBRU	-17.01065	-30.52302	4/24/2015 6:40	18.1	2.2	8.8	8.7	8.5	358	63
VEST	No Data	No Data	4/24/2015 6:42	No Data	No Data	No Data	No Data	No Data	No Data	No Data