The deep low-pressure system that has been forming for the past few
days has now engulfed the seven crews, forcing them to switch from
all-out racing to a more conservative mode. Nevertheless, boat speeds rocketed to an incredible 38 knots as the
Volvo Ocean 65s were launched down the faces of enormous Southern Ocean
rollers. The low pressure system responsible for the hammering is vast,
stretching almost 1,500 nautical miles from the tip of South Africa to
just a few hundred miles north of Antarctica.
It represents the biggest challenge so far in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean
Race, and, although Leg 3 from Cape Town to Melbourne is still in its
early stages, the decisions the teams make now could have serious
consequences on the results.
At 1300 UTC Dongfeng Race Team continued to lead the fleet from their
position furthest south, just seven miles above the Antarctic Ice
Exclusion Zone (AIEZ) set by race control.
Ten miles to the north MAPFRE continued the chase, with Vestas 11th Hour Racing filing in around 50 miles behind them.
“Conditions are full on,” Vestas 11th Hour Racing helmsman Mark
Towill said as the crew reported seeing gusts of 53 knots of wind
overnight. “We've had 30 to 40 knots for 24 hours now – we're rocketing
downwind. It's full on Southern Ocean conditions but good fun. We knew
what we were coming down here to find, and we've definitely found it.”
Eighty miles behind MAPFRE, Simeon Tienpont's team Akzonobel were
forced to hit the brakes after suffering damage to the track attaching
the mainsail to the mast.
Navigator Jules Salter reported that the damage occurred as the crew were gybing in 35 knots of wind and big seas.
“During one gybe from starboard to port the mainsail track on the
mast was damaged in two places,” read a statement from the team. “The
sailors were able to lower the mainsail and turn the boat away from the
AIEZ and are continuing to race using the boat’s forward sails only.
“There are no reports of any injuries on board as a result of the
damage and the crew is liaising with Volvo Ocean Race’s race control
staff and the team’s land based technical shore crew to establish what
repair options are available to them.”
Almost 250 miles to the north, Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag were
avoiding the worst of the weather having practically swapped positions
with Turn the Tide on Plastic – but even they haven't been able to
completely escape.
“Why do we all rave about coming down here?” skipper Dave Witt
questioned, half-jokingly. “Do we think we're tough or something? I
don't get it. We're all 'Southern Ocean, Southern Ocean'. I'm over the
Southern Ocean.”
Turn the Tide on Plastic had their own dramas when a man overboard
alarm sounded in the middle of the night, but thankfully it was a false
alarm and all crew were accounted for.
Leg 3 – Position Report – Thursday 14 December (Day 5) – 13:00 UTC
1. Donfeng Race Team -- distance to finish – 4,237.5 nautical miles
2. MAPFRE +8.7 nautical miles
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing +59.3
4. Team Brunel +105.1
5. team AkzoNobel +121.8
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic +153.6
7. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag +185.2
2. MAPFRE +8.7 nautical miles
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing +59.3
4. Team Brunel +105.1
5. team AkzoNobel +121.8
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic +153.6
7. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag +185.2
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