Volvo Ocean Race - The strongest cyclone in 40 years

by Volvo Ocean Race on 13 Mar 2015 The cyclone named Pam - Category five - again caused the postponement of the fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, race which will be played between New Zealand and Brazil. Experts indicate that the phenomenon is the strongest in 40 years in the South Pacific and is causing winds of over 200 km / h and torrential rains. Therefore, the organization and the athletes decided by well postpone the start aiming safety of the crew and boats. Until next Tuesday (17) any sailboat can leave Auckland.

According to Richard Green, the meteorologist on radio station RadioLIVE New Zealand, the 'Cyclone Pam'. 'We saw nine hurricanes category five in the last 40 years in the South Pacific and this is the strongest. When you approach the water cooler, it will decrease in intensity, but we'll see giant waves of 8 and 9 meters.'

Knut Frostad, CEO of Volvo Ocean Race, returned to manifest. 'These conditions are rare in the race and even in New Zealand. We will not get the leg until Tuesday.'

The final decision when the boats will follow the journey Itajaí will be on Sunday after the official release of the Volvo Ocean Race. To avoid problems, the organization began to dismantle the structures of the Race Village Auckland, because the phenomenon approaches land with winds near 120 km / h.

A cyclone is the same type of phenomenon that a hurricane or a typhoon, but a different name depending on where it is generated. They originate from a non-front storm system characterized by a low pressure center. Wheel clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. When a storm of this type exceeds 118 km / h is renamed cyclone, hurricane or typhoon.

'Mapfre boat crew did a new route of study and we cannot delay both the arrival in Brazil in early April. When you have provided strong winds and giant wave, the boats run not so much to save and equipment. With the situation a little more lenient, we may even accelerate more. Yet anxiety is great to get home, 'said the Brazilian André Fonseca.

The organization confirmed that it will perform on Saturday (14), In-port Race or Race Place of Auckland. The test is part of a parallel championship Volvo Ocean Race and the points serve to tie overall.