Transat Jacques Vabre - Three into stealth mode for the final miles

by Kelly Russell on 26 Nov 2009
Aviva Ocean Racing Race Update: Fierce competition as Aviva enters stealth mode in the final stages of the Transat Jacques Vabre.

Overnight Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson, onboard Aviva, continued their battle for position against Arnaud Boissières and Vincent Riou onboard Akena Verandas. The two IMOCA Open 60s swapped places a number of times, but always remained within 8 miles of each other.

To add to the intense competition and anticipation the Transat Jacques Vabre has delivered, Aviva, Akena Verandas and Veolia Environnement have all entered into ‘stealth mode’. For the first time in the history of the race, crews have the option of a self-imposed 24 hour blackout to prevent others from tracking their position. Having informed the race office of their intentions this morning, Aviva has now ‘disappeared’ until 10h00 tomorrow.

At 07h00 Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson were in eighth place, 2 miles behind Akena Verandas in seventh and 276 miles from the finish line in Costa Rica.

Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson’s latest diary entry received on 26 November 2009 at 0752 GMT:

'A quiet night with the wind easing and the spinnaker up. The pressure is on for the right approach to the light airs off the finish line. We crossed gybes with Akena in the dark and have gybed too. We will be playing our stealth hand as I would guess would be the others so keep your fingers crossed we make the right decisions and get there before them.'

Dee and Brian

http://www.avivaoceanracing.com