Sail-World.com : Volvo Ocean Race - Pack whittles away at the leader
Volvo Ocean Race - Pack whittles away at the leader
|
In the Volvo Ocean Race, with 689 nautical miles to go to the finish of Leg 7 in Lisbon, Portugal, the pace has increased today as the chasing pack went into attack mode and continued to whittle away at Ian Walker and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s tenuous lead. Groupama (Franck Cammas/FRA) and Telefónica (Iker Martínez/ESP) currently lying in second and first place overall, were back in the game, and the fleet was easily covering 500-miles plus in 24-hours, which was reducing the runway at a rapid rate.
According to Camper’s navigator Will Oxley, the complex weather has arisen due to a series of low pressure systems that are all merging to form one serious low-pressure right in the centre of the Atlantic. The fleet has been racing across with it for the last 24 to 30 hours and has been able to keep pace with the warm front, however now they are situated between the cold and warm fronts with around 25 to 30 knots of wind. 'We are desperately trying to stay in front of it [the system], because the wind will lift dramatically and die behind,' Oxley explained.
As the front grew nearer, the wind went ahead of the fleet, which meant sailing closer on the wind, bringing Telefónica and Groupama back into play in conditions that suit them well. Groupama had been holding third place since 0700 GMT this morning, but at 1600 GMT this afternoon, Telefónica entered the game, knocking Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand (Chris Nicholson/AUS) to fifth place as the fleet lined up across the front. 'This is useful because we need a boat in front of us in the ridge, just so we can go around them again,' Oxley commented.
In the 24-hour period to 1900 GMT today, both Groupama and Telefónica posted impressive runs of 534 and 533 nm respectively. Abu Dhabi’s account was 497 and lower than any other boat in the fleet as those behind consistently out-performed the Emiratis with a stronger following breeze.
At 1900 GMT tonight, Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg (Ken Read/USA) were within striking distance, 29.10 nm off the lead. Groupama in third was another 10 miles behind with Telefónica and Camper at 50 and 55 nm respectively. At 66 nm off the lead, Sanya was bringing up the rear, but still well in contention. The leading boat is expected to cross the finish in Lisbon on Thursday afternoon.
Volvo Ocean Race website
by Volvo Ocean Race
Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall
http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=97825
9:39 PM Tue 29 May 2012GMT
Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
Click for further information on
2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race
Related News Stories:
MORE STORIES ...
|
|
|
Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them!
This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty. Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved.
Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph you must contact the photographer directly (there is a hyperlink in most cases to their website, or do a Google search.) with your request.
Please do not contact
Sail-World.com
as we cannot give permission for use of other photographer’s images.
Only if the photographer named on the image is Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com, Marinebusiness-world.com or NZBoating-World.com.
Contact us
.
Ph: +61 2 8006 1873
or complete our
feedback form
Contact us
.
View our Privacy Policy.
[ Go Home]
[ Banner Advertising Specification]
[Bot Archive ]
Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our news feed on their website.
Look_here_to_see_examples
|
CLD
| | |
_USA_05-13[2][4].gif)
_USA_05-13[3].gif)
