Volvo Ocean Race - The rich will get richer

by Volvo Ocean Race on 26 May 2015 Volvo Ocean Race - In yacht racing, we have a number of phrases that crop up again and again. Topics that keep coming back to as the situation reoccurs. So here goes with a few family favorites.

“The rich will get richer.” This is because the fleet is sailing into more wind. After sailing in sub 10 knots, the 20-25 knot winds will feel like a gale. The direction will veer from north to the northeast and should stay strong until the fleet reaches the Tagus river in Lisbon. The final approach may be very tricky as the wind suddenly drops.

It’s a drag race east-southeast with speed being the most important commodity. All the re-positioning played out yesterday. Right now, the leading pack of Team Brunel, Dongfeng Race Team and MAPFRE are loving the pay day for the rich. The chasing pack of Team Alvimedica, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Team SCA are hoping that another familiar catch phrase comes into play, the Compression.

A small Compression is expected as the leaders hit the light wind near the finish. The idea there, being that the rich will reach the light air and slow right down, allowing the trailing pack to compress and maybe even join the leaders for another close finish.

A complex call of what side of the Lisbon TSS to choose will also come into play. The fleet is expected into Lisbon Wednesday morning.

So to round the Watch Log off with yet another popular catch-phrase, often used by the skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Ian Walker, “There’s plenty of golf left in this hole”.

Leader: TBRU
Wind speed: 15 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 16 knots
Wind direction: 010º
Lowest boat speed: SCA (15.6 knots)
Highest boat speed: ALVI (16.9 knots)
Lowest wind speed: SCA (13.8 knots)
Highest wind speed: MAPF (16.6 knots)