Plummeting into the high latitudes, the five double-handed Class40s in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) ran into light winds at 38 degrees South, 200 miles below Africa, and spent Thursday night waiting for the westerly winds to arrive. Spread over 100 miles east-west and averaging below five knots, the ten sailors regrouped, repaired and drew breath after a tough, 72-hour introduction to Leg 2. At 08:00 GMT on Thursday, Conrad Colman and Artemis Offshore Academy sailor, Sam Goodchild, ceased their flyer to the east on Cessna Citation having built a 43-mile lead over the fleet, tacking onto port and dropping south.
The maverick strategy of splitting from the main pack was high-risk: “It’s pretty fragile as our route east has cost us miles south and that’s where the new wind is coming from,” reported Colman on Thursday night. “I hope our option will pay as we're still faster than the others despite the sea state.”
Colman is unlikely to have time to celebrate his 28th birthday today as the fleet recover from negotiating the shallow and turbulent water over the southern tip of the Agulhas Bank stretching south of the African continent: “It’s pretty bloody bouncy out here and the entire boat is sopping wet already,” he explains. “We're happy with our progress, but aren't sure about how best to get through this little ridge of light winds just to our south.” At 06:00 GMT on Friday, Colman and Goodchild’s lead had dropped to 21 miles over Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron in second place on Campagne de France with Ross and Campbell Field in third on BSL just 13 miles behind the Franco-British duo with both boats picking up speed to the south as they dug into westerly breeze.
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