Volvo Ocean Race- The bleeding has stopped
by Volvo Ocean Race on 17 Feb 2015
February 12, 2015. Leg 4 to Auckland onboard Team Brunel. Day 4. The team battle with the seemingly never ending strong wind and waves. Stefan Coppers/Team Brunel
Volvo Ocean Race 2015 - 24 hours ago, Team Brunel’s lead was just under 100 nautical miles. It’s now down to 30. The only explanation is that the Dutch are compressing into an area of less wind ahead.
Over the last eight hours Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing was always about three to four knots faster in more wind. This trend has continued for the last five scheds (aka position reports). The bleeding has stopped and speeds have now equalised a little more with both boats now sailing at about 14-15 knots. This would suggest the fleet is moving into less stable condition.
The Doldrums or ITCZ is now approximately 300nm away. The teams must be approaching them like a gambler approaches a casino – quietly confident with plenty of fun to look forward to, but knowing deep down that the house has the better odds.
Just like at the roulette table, there are many options open for the fleet to cross the Doldrums. They will be finalising those strategies very soon and placing their bets.
Looking at the models, the wind will drop and head right. Maybe that is why the Brunel guys were so keen to get down over the lower pack and get in line. Team SCA is still stepped off the fleet’s line, about 45 nm to the northeast. Unless they receive a boost of pressure to work down with, they are in danger of being on the outside.
Nine days after leaving China, the next section of this leg is about to be very different again from the blasting aggressive reaching that they have all been complaining about.
Be careful what you wish for, likely they will want those uncomfortable conditions back after a few days drifting in the Doldrums.
Leader: TBRU
Wind speed: 16-19 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 15-17 knots
Wind direction: 15º - 57º
Lowest boat speed: TBRU (14.5 knots)
Highest boat speed: DFRT (16.1 knots)
Lowest wind speed: TBRU, ADOR, SCA (16 knots)
Highest wind speed: MAPF (19 knots)
Position report list
| YACHT |
LAT |
LON |
DATE |
DTL |
DTLC |
avgSOG(3h) |
avgSOG(15') |
TWS |
TWD |
HDG |
| TBRU |
9.55733 |
155.93817 |
17/02/15 06:40:00 |
0 |
0 |
14.5 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
119 |
| ADOR |
9.85683 |
155.2965 |
17/02/15 06:40:00 |
30.1 |
2 |
15.7 |
15 |
16 |
57 |
129 |
| MAPF |
10.00783 |
155.04983 |
17/02/15 06:40:00 |
43.7 |
3 |
16.6 |
17 |
19 |
29 |
117 |
| DFRT |
10.21333 |
154.8505 |
17/02/15 06:40:00 |
59.5 |
1 |
16.1 |
17 |
18 |
33 |
118 |
| ALVI |
10.238 |
154.72983 |
17/02/15 06:40:00 |
63.6 |
1 |
15.9 |
17 |
17 |
33 |
123 |
| SCA1 |
11.05667 |
154.884 |
17/02/15 06:40:00 |
106 |
1 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
26 |
119 |
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