Volvo Ocean Race Leg 6 - Day 4

All action in the pit during a sail change onboard CAMPER during leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race © Hamish Hooper / CAMPER ETNZ / Volvo Ocean Race

Adil Khalid puts straps on the old sail during a peel onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing during leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race © Nick Dana / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race

D-Day for fleet in race to the Trades

It was crunch time for the Volvo Ocean Race crews on Wednesday as they prepared to punch through a weather front that stands between them and the sought-after trade winds that will catapult them towards Miami.

Whichever team best navigates the light winds of the cold front and reaches the trades first will hold a huge advantage over their rivals as they rocket north at speeds of more than 20 knots -- and any losses made over the initial days of Leg 6 will become brutally clear.

After overhauling CAMPER and Abu Dhabi as they struggled in lighter airs overnight, PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG looked strongest as the fleet approached the front currently blocking their path.

But with Telefónica and Groupama shaving miles off the leaders from their more offshore position, the pressure was on to get through as quickly as possible without losing miles to any other team.

“Today’s the big day really,” said PUMA navigator Tom Addis. “The first boat into the trades has a pretty major advantage -- you can extend for quite a long time and be quite hard to catch.

“This is the critical one. Some points on some race tracks aren’t critical, but this one is critical.”

With the front around 60 miles ahead, the teams were ploughing all their resources into working out the best line to take through its light, fluky winds.

“I spent a lot of last night working on our approach for this stuff,” Addis added. “We’re happy with our position and if we’re in the lead our chances [of reaching the trades first] are something more than 50 per cent.

“But we’re leading into some light stuff and there will be some pressure from behind so we’ll just try and do the best we can and be the first one out. It’s important to be the first one out.”

Meanwhile, Franck Cammas’ men on fifth-placed Groupama sailing team were doing their best to hang on to Telefónica in conditions that seemed to favour the overall race leaders.

“We are more used to being the hunted rather than the hunters,” said Groupama navigator Jean-Luc Nélias. “In general, we’ve been on the same option as Telefónica and they’ve always been a bit faster than us.

“We’re investigating -- we’re looking below the hull, we’re looking at the daggerboards, checking if there is some seaweed or plastic stuck on them, but the conclusion right now is that we are a bit behind.”

However with the cold front transition zone immanent, Nélias said there were plenty of opportunities to pass their rivals up ahead.

“It’s a bit like the Doldrums," he added. “It’s so hazardous and complicated that it’s not always the first to enter it who leaves it first.”

Volvo Ocean Race chief meteorologist Gonzalo Infante said the cold front was narrower in the east, ahead of Telefónica and Groupama, and wider in the west in front of CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

“All the hard work of the first four days comes down to this,” Infante said. “It’s a super critical moment. The teams have an opportunity to capitalise on their position by entering the trades first.”

The dilemma could force CAMPER and Abu Dhabi to head offshore from their current positions around 90 miles off the coast of Brazil, costing them precious miles.

CAMPER were dealt a blow overnight when a rope securing the foresail to the bow of their yacht snapped.

“Luckily everyone was ok and time wise it probably only cost us a minute or two so we are very fortunate,” said skipper Chris Nicholson.

On board Abu Dhabi, the crew were preparing for the demanding day ahead as they closed in on their rivals.

“Things remain tight with CAMPER and we are slowly converging with the Juan K boats,” helmsman Rob Greenhalgh said. “There are a few lightning storms up ahead, so it looks like we are approaching the frontal line. It should be an interesting next 24 hours.”

The first boats are expected to cross the Leg 6 finish line in Miami around May 7.

Position Report at 13:03:02 UTC:

www.VolvoOceanRace.com

Blog from the Seas (by Amory Ross, MCM, PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG)

“Who forgot the wasabi and soy sauce? Perfect fishing conditions out here...shame we’re trying to go yachting.” – Shannon Falcone

LOCATION: 170 miles E of Campos, Brazil
WINDSPEED: 17.4 kts
BOATSPEED: 19.7 kts
HEADING: 038-degrees
DISTANCE TO EQUATOR: 1,500 miles

These are easy miles, these. Close reaching in flat water, making 20 knots of boat speed in 16 knots of wind, there is little discomfort other than the rising temperature. In these conditions it takes little effort to keep our Mar Mostro moving well through the water. The boat moves effortlessly and were it not for the occasional fast moving spray along the rail, it would be difficult appreciating how fast we’re actually going. Life on deck is quiet, calm, and dry, and you begin to see the potential in these boats when they’re hitting their stride. A puff hits and instead of heeling over, they accelerate rapidly: 16, 17, 18, 19…it doesn’t take much to make the numbers climb!

It feels like we’ve only had a handful of these days over the length of this race, but the reward is always worth the wait. After all we’ve been through, some of the miles we’ve had to earn in utter misery, spent slamming upwind in gale force winds, slatting for days under clouds, slowing the boat down in Southern Ocean waves, it’s great watching progress pile up in relative comfort. We’re back to having Parmesan cheese with salami slices, beef jerky, and an ever-abundant collection of chocolate, but this time it’s all served on deck.

Our middle-of-the-road position seems to have worked all right, too. We haven’t fallen into the inshore duo of CAMPER and Abu Dhabi who are sailing in stronger winds, and we haven’t lost much to Groupama and Telefónica, further offshore in less current. We’re still more or less in between the two packs and closing quickly on the ridge we need to pass to reach the trade winds. It’s around 100 miles until the front, and then another 50 or so to the ridge, and the first boat to push through both of those gets a much-wanted jump start home to the north.

- Amory

CAMPER hoping dolphins will bring good luck (from CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand)

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand have had mixed fortunes in the Volvo Ocean Race so far, but that may be about to change.

As the team sped along the Brazilian coast between Rio and and Salvador do Bahia on day three of Leg 6 from Itajai to Miami, they were paid a visit by beautiful pod of dolphins.

Dolphins are considered lucky in many different cultures and a symbol of protection. This belief stems from the fact that ancient sailors who had spent months or even years at sea, found the sight of dolphins swimming around their ships to be the first sign that land was near. The Ancient Greeks considered it a good omen when dolphins rode in a ship’s wake.

On seeing the dolphins acrobatically jumping in and out of the water, navigator Will Oxley, a marine biologist with 22 years experience, said: “Very cool. They always put a smile on your face when you see them. They’re amazing."

Tony Rae is hoping the visit by the dolphins brings a change in fortunes for the third-placed Camper team who are still looking for their first leg win but are still very much in the mix with just 32 points separating the top four boats.

“Normally it’s good luck to have dolphins swim round your boat and follow you for a while, so let’s hope that works out for us,” he said.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team Blog (from Nick Dana)

Since the start of this leg we have been blessed with great sailing conditions. Never more than 20 knots of wind and more importantly - all ‘downhill’ in the direction in which we are actually trying to go. At the moment we are still locked in our little drag race with Camper and have now about 10 miles separation with them slightly below our line. Although we have lost a few miles in the last couple of scheds, perhaps due to sail choice, we have held our height and have begun the convergence with the rest of the fleet to weather of us.

Over the coming days we should see the breeze soften and shift slightly more from the North as we pass through the upcoming frontal line. So far sail changes have been seldom, but as we approach the trades and new weather systems that will no doubt change. The mood on board is still all smiles – the intensity of ‘mile for mile’ racing in flat water reaching conditions has got everyone energised. However, there is some worry that the cutting back of freeze dried food in order save weight may carry consequences, if the conditions become more demanding on the body. Fortunately with more exhausting conditions in this leg, you’re generally moving faster towards your target.

“What a ride – last time I shot up this coast was on a Whitbread 60. Nice to have the extra horsepower of the 70-footer that’s for sure.” Anthony ‘Nocka’ Nossiter. “Things remain tight with Camper and we are slowly converging with the Juan K boats. It looks like a few lightening storms up ahead, so maybe we are approaching this frontal line. Should be an interesting next 24 hours.” Rob Greenhalgh. “Over the past 12 to 15 hours the sail calls have been difficult, we seem to get locked right on our crossover angles and wind speed. Nevertheless, it’s great sailing.” Paul Willcox.

Squall by squall (from Groupama Sailing Team)

Before they can hook onto the easterly tradewinds, the five crews must traverse a zone of storms, which marks a 180° wind shift in relation to the current conditions on the water. With clouds, squalls and calm spells, this fifty-mile wide transition zone is likely to establish a hierarchy over the course of tonight, which is likely to last several days… As such this is a major obstacle to be negotiated.

A little over 700 miles in three days! The introduction to this sixth leg between Brazil and Florida is proving rather laborious as the boats are constantly switching between fine reaches at an average of nearly 17 knots and extended periods of slow conditions at 7 knots… In short, since Sunday's start from Itajai, the sailing conditions have been rather calm, in sunshine which isn't too aggressive yet and a pretty smooth sea state balanced out by a long swell. Even so, Franck Cammas and his men have had to increase the number of manœuvres and adjustments in order to gain headway to the North, though they haven't managed to make up their deficit in relation to the American leader.

Veins of breeze

Before even leaving the Brazilian pontoons, the navigators knew that the rounding of Cape Frio, to the West of Rio de Janeiro, wouldn't be the easiest zone to negotiate. Indeed it is an area synonymous with a great deal of instability due to the Saint Helena High being pushed back towards Africa and a depression forming to the South of Itajai. As such the Brazilian coast is subject to an uncertain pattern of weather conditions, since a storm front has waded into the frame offshore of Sao Mateus, resulting in a cloud mass which the five VO-70s will have to traverse this Wednesday. On the southern side of this meteorological barrier, the dozen knots or so of breeze have shifted round to the South-East and on the northern side, there is a light northerly breeze of just six knots.

The strong tropical sunshine which is reigning on both sides of this band will give way to a more or less significant accumulation of squalls, which will make any progress northwards fairly chaotic. Some clouds will ensnare the crews in an extended period of calm, whilst others will release a gust of downwind air, or even a light zephyr of headwind… On the cards for this Wednesday afternoon, the traversing of this fairly inconsistent weather system will call for a number of manœuvres, with the main focus being on the constant adapting of the course in a bid to hop from one squall to the next without stopping. As such, it will be necessary to find these veins of air as there certainly isn't a main artery anywhere nearby!

Sickly tradewinds

This storm phenomenon is extending offshore of Brazil and there is no other solution than to traverse it perpendicularly. This is why the courses are tending to converge and the two options, which had split the fleet into two groups on Tuesday morning, are likely to fuse together again tonight, amidst the beats which are set to characterise these next few hours. Although the fifty miles or so of lateral separation between those favouring the inshore option (Camper, Abu Dhabi) and those staying offshore (Puma, Telefonica, Groupama 4), will considerably diminish, what will become of the longitudinal deltas?

It's hard to anticipate as the local conditions may be very different within a short distance. It will all depend on the varying degrees of density of the cloud masses which the crews will have to negotiate. Franck Cammas and his men aren't best placed since they're forty miles shy of the American leader. The crew will have to pull out all the stops to hop from one squall to the next, so as to claw back some miles, or at the very least limit the damage in this dodgy section. Indeed, behind this storm front, the tradewinds are in position, even though they're not very steady and are generating just ten knots of breeze.

However, the first to extract themselves from this pitfall could well power over the horizon as they benefit from a gradual increase in the easterly breeze the further North they get. Offshore of Salvador de Bahia, around fifteen knots are sweeping the area and off Recife, the wind is reaching a good twenty knots or so! As a result this acceleration will colour the progress of those at the front of the fleet and the separation with the other boats will only increase if one or several of the pursuers drag their heels as they try to escape the front. The deltas between the five boats could be very sizeable then, since there will hardly be any options possible as far as the Caribbean!