Volvo Ocean Race- Puma's lead collapses as the fleet turn corner

by Richard Gladwell on 29 Apr 2012

Volvo Ocean Race positions, Leg 6 at 1122hrs on 29 April: Predictwind shows Puma making an early move for Florida, and staying between her competition and the finish. Camper (White) and Telefonica (Aqua). PredictWind.com www.predictwind.com

The lead of over an hour enjoyed by Puma Ocean Racing for the majority of Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, seems to have collapsed as they turn the corner of South America.

From the positions relayed at 0038hrs on 29 April UTC, the Volvo Ocean Race Tracker, using an instant position system, reports that Puma now has a lead of just 4nm over Camper sailed by Emirates Team NZ, with Telefonica 10nm back.

That view is reinforced by www.predictwind.com!Predictwind.com using its routing function, which shows that Puma is about 35 minutes ahead over a seven day period heading to a virtual waypoint off the Dominican Republic. Telefonica is another 20 minutes astern.

Predictwind also shows that the race to Florida will be punctuated with several course options, rather than the more direct follow the leader approach predicted a day or so ago.

But at the next sked at 0400hrs on 29 April UTC
And at the 1122hrs sked, Puma had elected to break for Miami, which the other two front runners, Camper and Telefonica, who seemed to be almost side by side, were still continuing to stand out into the Atlantic..

On the latest predicted finish times from the routing function of www.predictwind.com!Predictwind.com, there was little on the race - based on a calculated finish time in 10 days, with Puma, leading Telefonica and Camper by just 30minutes.

Volvo Ocean Race positions, Leg 6 at 1122hrs on 29 April: Predictwind shows the boats playing follow the leader, for much of the route, but some different options come into play as the boats near the finish. © PredictWind.com www.predictwind.com

Predictwind shows Puma has a battle with Camper (White) and Telefonica (Aqua), as the exit the South America coast. Previously Puma had been clear ahead of Camper, by an hour, and Camper was previously in a direct line astern of the US entry. © PredictWind.com www.predictwind.com

Volvo Ocean Race positions, Leg 6 at 0400hrs on 29 April: Predictwind shows Puma making an early move for Florida, and staying between her competition and the finish. Camper (White) and Telefonica (Aqua). © PredictWind.com www.predictwind.com

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