Volvo Ocean Race - Ahead the Azores, who will get sores

by Volvo Ocean Race on 24 May 2015

Onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - Luke Parko Parkinson readies a halyard after a sail change onboard Azzam in the Atlantic Ocean - Leg 7 to Lisbon - Volvo Ocean Race Matt Knighton/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

Volvo Ocean Race - The mission to negotiate the Azores High is in full operation.

Dongfeng Race Team is leading so they get to set both the pace and the route. They decided to take a slightly more northerly route. None of the teams is looking like risking a more direct passage through the high-pressure system.

After taking some bad losses yesterday, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing hasn’t been able to sail as low and fast as the leading pack and has taken some unpalatable medicine by double gybing. This was a painful move resulting in further losses to the leaders. They are now 27.6 nautical miles behind Dongfeng.

Team SCA also made the brave call to gybe down with two separate manoeuvres. They are now a frustrating 101.9nm behind the leader. They must be quite keen to do something different, as just following is unlikely to get them back into the fleet.

Team Brunel and MAPFRE are sailing like they are joined together – they’re only 0.9nm apart!

The current Estimated Time of Arrival in Lisbon, Portugal, is for Wednesday, May 27. The fleet is in the light air now but should reach stronger winds on Monday.

Leader: DFRT
Wind speed: 10 knots (15 knots for SCA)
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 11.8 knots
Wind direction: 187º - 216º
Lowest boat speed: ADOR (11.5 knots)
Highest boat speed: SCA (14.8 knots)
Lowest wind speed: ADOR (8.9 knots)
Highest wind speed: SCA (15.2 knots)