Volvo Ocean Race- The fleet heads south along the ice limit

by Volvo Ocean Race on 27 Mar 2015 As with most exclusion zones tactically, the fleet wants to be the other side of it, but they are put there for the good of the fleet and safety of the sailors.

After all, ice is not to be messed with! So with the virtual line in the sand - or water, to be more precise - the fleet slides south, as close to the ice limit as they can.

It is still incredible to see that after that over 3500nm sailed, the distance between the second placed boat, Mapfre, and the fifth placed team, Abu Dhabi is only 1.9nm.

After Dongfeng caught the best shift in town to take the lead yesterday, the chasing fleet are reporting their frustrations at being passed so easily.

Matt Knighton blogs that the level of head scratching and brainstorming onboard the Emirati boat has reached a new all time high.

He writes: “When Ian is frustrated or under pressure he typically removes his hat, sits there, and rubs his hand over his head. We’re at the point where the hat barely goes on anymore.”

The good news for the fleet now is that there are no more light patches between here and the Cape Horn.

After catching up so many of the lost miles by nailing a lovely shift sailing close to ice limit eight, Team SCA had to sacrifice them again to slow down to repair the last of the broken sails.

This has cost them 28.1 nm in the last position report. However the crew feels that they have found their stride again, and is keen to forget the troubles of the past and catch the fleet. Sam Davies has reported a positive attitude.

The fleet will continue to push south faster and faster in a building breeze. Cape Horn, here they come!

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Leader: DFRT
Wind speed: 18.5 - 25.3 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 13.1-20.9 knots
Wind direction: 262º - 273º
Lowest boat speed: SCA (13.6 knots)
Highest boat speed: ADOR (19 knots)
Lowest wind speed: SCA (18.5 knots)
Highest wind speed: ADOR (25.3 knots)

Position report list

YACHT	LAT	LON	DATE	DTL	DTLC	avgSOG(3h)	avgSOG(15')	TWS	TWD	HDG
DFRT	-52.04833	-111.8035	27/03/15 06:40:00	0	0.0	18.8	20	21	272	131
MAPF	-51.897	-111.98383	27/03/15 06:40:00	10	-3.0	17.1	19	22	273	129
ALVI	-51.88783	-112.005	27/03/15 06:40:00	11	-9.0	14.9	21	23	268	127
ADOR	-51.91067	-112.0285	27/03/15 06:40:00	11.1	2.0	19.1	20	24	270	129
TBRU	-51.93917	-112.05617	27/03/15 06:40:00	11.3	-1.0	18.1	18	22	268	123
SCA1	-50.89983	-113.40083	27/03/15 06:40:00	84.9	-28.0	14.2	14	18	260	106