Volvo Ocean Race - Intense race towards the finish line

by Volvo Ocean Race on 27 May 2015 Volvo Ocean Race - Like a bicycle race towards the end of a stage, individuals are pushing hard to just win within their own pack.

The leading pack of Team Brunel, MAPFRE and Dongfeng Race Team are heads down going for the win and a podium finish in Lisbon. Conveniently for them, they have done a good job of breaking away and can just concentrate on each other.

About 35 nautical miles back just above the racing line of the leaders, Team Alvimedica and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing have their own fight on their hands. Just 1.1nm separate them. The Emirati boat has taken 0.7nm out of the lead the Turkish-American campaign had over them.

Team SCA has lost 1.9nm to the leader as they are sailing in lighter winds. They are 57.2nm behind Team Brunel.
The leaders are in the stronger conditions forecasted off the Portuguese coast. They are blast reaching fast, reporting speeds of 21 knots.

Still no clear idea of what side of the local TSS the fleet will go as this stands in their way. A south rounding looks most likely.

Please see the Dashboard on our homepage for the latest estimated time of arrivals (tomorrow morning, May 27 from 0400 UTC onwards at the time of this report).

Leader: TBRU
Wind speed: 25 knots
Boat speed SOG (15 mins): 21.5 knots
Wind direction: 022º
Lowest boat speed: SCA (20.7 knots)
Highest boat speed: TBRU (21.7 knots)
Lowest wind speed: SCA (21.4 knots)
Highest wind speed: MAPF (28.7 knots)