The Volvo Ocean Race teams were pointing in completely the opposite
direction to the Leg 10 finish line on Tuesday as they attempted to
cross a windless ridge of high-pressure that could hold the key to
overall victory. In a bizarre twist, the seven teams found themselves heading due west
on Tuesday afternoon (UTC), away from the finish port of Gothenburg,
Sweden, as they battled to get across the ridge 100 miles off the Irish
coast.
After almost two days at sea in the penultimate stage of the 11-leg
race – and with less than 1,000 miles remaining – just eight miles split
the seven crews.
Today it was the turn of Spanish outfit MAPFRE to occupy the top
spot, with team AkzoNobel in the runner-up position just 0.2 miles back.
Early leg leaders Dongfeng Race Team, who currently top the overall
scoreboard, have been relegated to fourth in Leg 10 with Team Sun Hung
Kai/Scallywag showing as placing third.
However the current standings aren’t all they seem - in reality
Scallywag likely trails the fleet by around 16 miles but is technically
closer to the finish line some 970 miles to the east.
While boat speeds were down to just a handful of knots at 1300 UTC,
the teams all know that on the other side of the ridge lies stronger
south westerlies that will allow them to point north and start to blast
towards the top of Scotland.
The first teams into the stronger breeze will get the opportunity to
pull away from their rivals – and with just three points separating the
top three teams on the overall leaderboard it could prove crucial to the
outcome of the entire race.
“It's been very tricky since the start as I'm sure you've seen," said
MAPFRE skipper Xabi Fernández. "We are a little bit nervous about
crossing the ridge as the first one through will look very good, so we
are trying to gain to the west as much as can... Happy to be here in the
north and looking good, but still quite nervous to be honest."
“Three or four days still to go and anything can happen,” MAPFRE
bowman Willy Altadil said. “Maybe the Volvo Ocean Race will be decided
in the next 10 hours – after that the wind will come and it will be
harder to pass people.”
Having wiggled their way back to the front of the fleet, team
AkzoNobel’s thoughts now turn to what lies in store later in the leg.
The forecast is for testing conditions – 40 knots of breeze and poor
visibility around Scotland, a breezy upwind passage across the North Sea
then even stronger winds and bigger seas off the coast of Norway.
“Most of the boats are pretty much in a line, south east to north
west, coming into the ridge,” AkzoNobel watch captain Chris Nicholson
said. “What’s weird is that it’s the same ridge that we crossed two
weeks ago (on Leg 9, into Cardiff). We’re hoping things will be a little
bit better for us crossing the ridge a little further to the north.
“I don’t think anyone really knows where they need to be but we’ve
pretty much stuck to our plan so in that regard we’re reasonably happy.
Now we’re just gearing up talking about how we’re going to change and
adjust sails really efficiently from after we cross the ridge to the
finish. I think that’s going to be the trick.”
The approach on Vestas 11th Hour Racing, the most southerly boat in the fleet, was equally simple.
“Hopefully we get in alright, get out alright and end up in first place,” Tom Johnson said. “That’s the plan, anyway.”
The ETA into the finish in Gothenburg, Sweden is currently Thursday night.
Volvo Ocean Race Leg 10 Leaderboard at 13:00 UTC on Tuesday 12 June
1. MAPFRE – 971 nautical miles to the finish
2. team AkzoNobel – 0.5 nautical miles to leader
3. SHK / Scallywag – 2.4 nautical miles to leader
4. Dongfeng Race Team – 6.9 nautical miles to leader
5. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 7.4 nautical miles to leader
6. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 8.0 nautical miles to leader
7. Team Brunel – 8.1 nautical miles to leader
1. MAPFRE – 971 nautical miles to the finish
2. team AkzoNobel – 0.5 nautical miles to leader
3. SHK / Scallywag – 2.4 nautical miles to leader
4. Dongfeng Race Team – 6.9 nautical miles to leader
5. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 7.4 nautical miles to leader
6. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 8.0 nautical miles to leader
7. Team Brunel – 8.1 nautical miles to leader
Volvo Ocean Race Points Table after Leg 9
1. Dongfeng Race Team – 60 points
2. MAPFRE – 59 points
3. Team Brunel – 57 points
4. team AkzoNobel – 48 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 36 points
6. SHK / Scallywag – 29 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 26 points
1. Dongfeng Race Team – 60 points
2. MAPFRE – 59 points
3. Team Brunel – 57 points
4. team AkzoNobel – 48 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 36 points
6. SHK / Scallywag – 29 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 26 points
** Should there be a tie on the overall race leaderboard at the
end of the offshore legs, the In-Port Race Series standings will be used
to break the tie.
Current Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Points Table
1. MAPFRE – 56 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team – 49 points
4. Team Brunel – 41 points
3. team AkzoNobel – 39 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 26 points
6. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag – 21 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 17 points
1. MAPFRE – 56 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team – 49 points
4. Team Brunel – 41 points
3. team AkzoNobel – 39 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 26 points
6. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag – 21 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 17 points
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