Volvo Ocean Race - A sprint to Cape Horn
by Volvo Ocean Race on 30 Mar 2015
Team SCA - 2014 - 15 Volvo Ocean Race Volvo Ocean Race
http://www.volvooceanrace.com
At this stage of this Leg 5 from Auckland to Itajaí, it’s pretty much a sprint to Cape Horn. The conditions are favourable for this with the north-westerly winds blowing 30 knots and the sea state being “relatively” flat with 2.5 to 3-metre waves.
Apart from Team SCA, the entire fleet has covered more than 500 nautical miles in the last 24 hours. The boats are being pushed harder. On every position report we have seen three-hour average speeds from 20 to 23 knots for the five boats that are fighting for the lead.
Team Alvimedica has managed to keep the first place so far, while Mapfre took the second one around 1100 UTC. Iker Martinez’s crew is now just 2.5nm behind the orange boat.
Dongfeng Race Team is following closely, 7nm behind the Spaniards. Team Brunel is 10nm south of the leaders while Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is 20nm south.
Team SCA has gybed southeast at 1330 UTC and has been sailing conservatively, doing 15-16 knots on average.
But beware – the sea state is about to get rough. Waves are expected to build over the next 24 hours as the sailors get closer to the continental shelf – and Cape Horn.
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