Volvo Ocean Race - The Dover Traffic Separation Scheme

by Volvo Ocean Race on 19 Jun 2015 England versus France – that’s how the fleet is playing it today. The Dover Traffic Separation Scheme that lies in the middle of the English Channel split the seven boats.

Dongfeng Race Team, MAPFRE and Team Brunel took the northern English coast route, leaving Team Alvimedica, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Team Vestas Wind and Team SCA to play the southern French coast.

Initially the north pack was making good headway in more wind and a better angle. The southern pack had to tack many times along the northern beaches of France, famous for many more sobering conflicts of the past. Struggling with less wind and a worse angle, they started to fall back.

However by this afternoon the tables slowly turned, favouring the southern pack again. Team Alvimedica stretched their lead to the south over Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Both fleets will at least be trying to win their respective side.

By later afternoon the northern pack had slowed down from about 15 knots to about five knots. The wind went right and with the TSS in their way, they had to start tacking.

Right now there is about 10 nautical miles from Dongfeng back to Team Brunel, bobbing about just past the TSS and desperately trying to get south. The wind has dropped right off and their sails are hanging in just two knots of wind.

Just 30nm to the south, Team Alvimedica is making good headway sailing at 10 knots straight towards The Hague.

The tide has changed and is getting stronger against the fleet. It’s not making things very easy for them as they navigate in changeable conditions, busy shipping and a setting sun.

The big question is how the northern fleet will zip up with the southern. Who will have been right? England or France?

Check our homepage for the latest Estimated Time of Arrival of the boats in The Hague.

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