The temperatures continue to rise onboard the Volvo Open 70’s out on the race course, as well as the frustrations of the crews. Over the past 24 hours PUMA (Ken Read/USA) and Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) have gained on the leader Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR).
The two yachts are currently positioned 65 nautical miles to the east of Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) and slowly overtook the black boat over the hours of darkness as they tracked south. They now sit in second and third respectively.
For Ken Read/USA on il mostro the time to face King Neptune is nearing, but before that the crew of PUMA haa a few good miles to pick its way through the doldrums. Andrew Cape predicts there is 60 nautical miles to go before they might reach the trade winds again.
Thoughts have turned philosophical for Read, as he considers today their tactical plans down the Atlantic, as they led into the 'world’s largest doldrums'.
He joked, 'Early in the race we knew that this was going to be a major trap. The doldrums as described by Capey in his typical understated tones were ‘unusually large’, which translates to, ‘Holy crap, there isn't any wind forever!’ Actually what he described is that the doldrums are exactly where they usually are, and aren't really that large, but there is a huge band of no wind to the north of the doldrums making it seem like the worlds largest doldrums. And he was right.'
Their tactic to get through the extended light airs was to stay between their enemies and the scoring gate at Fernando de Noronha but in retrospect Read wonders if they were too tactically conservative. 'In the Green Dragons case, they did a really nice job, back a hundred miles at one point, sailing right around the fleet to the west. Same thing with Ericsson 4, who after dropping off Tony (Mutter) for medical help found a way back and also boogied to the west.'
Ericsson 4 is a mere 24 miles from the leader and has had the best 24 hour run with 189 miles, 6 miles more than PUMA. Ryan Godfrey, bowman, reported on the crew’s jolly mood, 'We have been in relatively good sailing conditions compared to our competitors and are slowly earning back the ground that we had sacrificed for a more westerly route several days ago. So far, we have managed to avoid any major 'park-ups' in the numerous windless zones that dominate this doldrums area.'
The media crew member, Guy Salter also had something to add today about life onboard their carbon fibre oven of a boat. 'There are some budding tailors onboard and the odd wannabe ballet dancer (in lycra skin tight leggings), but for me the prize for most marginal has to go to a Brazilian and his very short shorts (they get shorter by the day). At least the Speedos have not made an appearance yet, probably because the shoe horn needed to get into them has been left ashore! How about getting your crew shorts back on Torben! Please!' At least the humour has not run out onboard.
As of 10:00 GMT the whole fleet made a concerted decision to head south west towards the waypoint and they have carried on this track for the past three hours. Green Dragon is now 505 miles from the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha, with a current speed of 6.7 knots compared to a more healthy 9, 8 and 9.5 knots average on the three boats behind. Yet the only boat to gain on the leader is PUMA since the last report with a three mile gain. Green Dragon is sailing more directly at the mark.
Bouwe Bekking (NED) skipper of Telefónica Blue is another tense man today as he is chased by the Nordic crew of Ericsson 3 (Anders Lewander/SWE). Yesterday saw the two boats within 4 miles of each other as they dodged wind holes. Overnight two boats manoeuvred their way through the squalls but the blue boat extended away from Ericsson 3 and is currently nine miles to the south west.
Bekking described the hard night’s work, 'It was our turn again tonight to have a park-up. We saw thunder and lightning on the horizon appear, so switched our radar on to see if there was any rain. Rain in general is bad news, especially if you are in the wake of a cloud. We could see that the rain was about 16 miles away, so roughly 30 km, and you would expect that there is no impact over such a big distance. But we know better, Ericsson 3 had seen the same thing, and we both tried to sail higher to avoid it as well as possible.
'But again we both ran into the wall. FULLSTOP for two hours, sails flapping. Anyway nice to have a boat right next to you in these conditions, as you can see immediately if you do things right (or wrong) as you have good gauge right next to you. In that sense we have been sailing well.'
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BOAT BLOGS
TELEFONICA BLUE – Simon Fisher (Navigator) Tuesday 21 October 14.22 GMT
Hi There,
There is little wind and the temperature is searing hot. After having got a shift to the south east early in the morning we were all optimistic that it was the beginning of the end for the doldrums. However, the torture continues as several hours later we are again doing all we can do to avoid parking up.
To fan the flames of frustration we can see the boats to the west of us slowly gaining on us, ghosting away in just a little more breeze. Our gamble to cross the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone) slightly more east looks like it might not pay off. Whilst the gains were made earlier, the boats that cut their losses and headed west are slowly grinding out their lead again and all we can do is sit and watch as we struggle to keep the boat moving. Hopefully this subtle form of torture cannot last for that much longer. Once again we have to be patient, wait for our next opportunity and re-group, ready to pounce once again.
Luckily we have faired well against the boats around us, we have gained some precious miles on Ericsson 3 who we have been racing in sight of us for much of the night. It has been good motivation to have one of our competitors in our grasp. I think everyone on board is keen to prove what we can do if we can only get ourselves back into the same patch of water as the leaders.
Onboard it is quiet, anyone off watch is hiding from the sun, way forward in the bow to help the boat keep moving. So that is where I will head to next, to catch a little sleep to prepare myself for the next position report when I will learn our all important fate in the last three hours.
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ERICSSON 4 - Ryan Godfrey (Bowman) Received 13:04 GMT
Afternoon everyone,
Things have been going well on E4 for the past day or so. We have been in relatively good sailing conditions compared to our competitors and are slowly earning back the ground that we had sacrificed for a more westerly route several days ago. So far, we have managed to avoid any major 'park ups' in the numerous windless zones that dominate this doldrums area.
The temperature both on deck and below is reaching well into high thirties at times which is making life somewhat unpleasant in regards to sleeping during your off watch. The warmth is doing no favours for the body odour of a select few of our crewmates. Hopefully an upcoming rain cloud will inspire them to take an outdoors shower!
We are looking forward to soon getting into the South East trade winds and increasing our speed towards Cape Town and few drinks with friends and family.
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TELEFONICA BLACK - Mikel Pasabant (Media Crew) Tuesday 21 October 2008 11:40
Another night has passed approaching the Equator, and as the previous one, there was a constant watch on the radar to avoid the common squalls during the night.
Dawn was impressive: as the sun rose, it appeared step by step as an endless palette of every colour, grey from the clouds, red, yellow, blue... and a rainbow behind, with all those clouds full of humidity... This is paradise for a good photographer, as the atmosphere is absolutely clear of any trace of pollution.
We are about 60 miles away of the southern trade winds and imagine how we are looking forward to catching them up! Then the race will start again, for sure. We are still in the leading group, fighting for second place, and anything may happen. Still it is a long, very long way to go!
We have to take advantage of these calm winds and rest or take care of the material, revising etc. I say rest because it is quite difficult to sleep due to the temperature: more than 45º C! Anyway, we are trying to. Sure, Yiyo (Íñigo Losada – team physical trainer), we are drinking a lot!!
GREEN DRAGON - Ian Walker
'We are nearly out of the Doldrums - we have south south east wind which is the first sign. It looks like we will have about a 20 mile lead with 500 miles to go to the gate – we are not sure if this will be enough to hold off PUMA in a one tack drag race to Fernando, so we will have to wait and see.
I’ve just done 12 hours on deck pushing hard to get out ASAP and I am fried (literally). If all things were equal we would extend now as we get more and more wind, and more and more lifts. We’ll see, but I don’t want to tempt fate. It is frustrating not to be further ahead, but we lost a few hours to clouds - there was one we couldn’t get south of for two hours! I hope this is enough to hold on, you never know we could even get a weather break!
Looks like we will have a good lead over the mid fleet boats who stayed east, but it’s all to do with who gets that wind first and PUMA are inching closer to us all the time so it’s a bit stressful for all concerned. It’s now a waiting game to see who gets their nose into that breeze first. Otherwise all is well on board. I’m really enjoying it so far but then again it has been sunny and downwind!'
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ERICSSON 3 - Aksel Magdahl (Navigator)
Last night: Thunderstorm! There was a sudden huge wind increase and shift, we were quickly sailing 90 degrees off course at five times the speed with way too much sail area. The bow was digging into the water because of all the sails on the bow to keep the stern out of the water in the light airs.
It was a massive tropical rain shower and hard to see anything. Screaming between helmsman and trimmer. 'Ease more!', 'Get more topmast backstay on!', 'Where are we in this squall on the radar?', 'Stand by to furl!' and 'No, let's ride it out!'
Good action for a change compared to the dull last couple of days. But that marked the end of breeze for us really, so it has been a painful night. Right now we are out in the southerly breeze, but very light and changeable. If our karma has not changed, the thundery clouds will probably move after us.
Received 13:00 GMT
by VOR media/Various Volvo OR competitors
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