Volvo OR - Images as the fleet heads South
by Sail-World NZ and team AkzoNobel 10 Dec 2017 23:50 GMT
11 December 2017
Leg 3, Cape Town to Melbourne, Start © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet are battling big seas as they head South on the opening day of Leg 3.br>
After a start in champagne sailing conditions, the fleet were faced with a punishing first night at sea with gale force winds and huge seas.
Once offshore the wind ramped up quickly and by 1900 SAST (1700 UTC/1800 CET) the team AkzoNobel sailors were battling 45-knot headwinds and monstrous waves as they clawed their way past South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
The fastest route to Melbourne sees the fleet dive south into the storm track – a conveyor belt of intense low-pressure weather systems that race around the bottom of the world unchecked, generating fierce winds and gigantic breaking ocean swells.
It will be fast and furious sailing and the team AkzoNobel sailors know they could be tested to their absolute limits before they reach Melbourne. More than ever, safety was uppermost in everyone’s minds when they left the dock in Cape Town today.
“You can come unstuck at any point,” said team AkzoNobel watch captain Chris Nicholson (AUS). “It’s going to be a fast and hectic leg. To get a good result you need to keep the hammer down, but keeping everyone safe is down to all of us looking out for each other all of the time.”
Competitors are expected to dive deep into the Southern Ocean to hitch a ride on a front that is sweeping through in a couple of day's time, preceded by an area of light winds in a ridge of high pressure. Currently they are sailing away from the direct course to the finish line, in a south westerly direction to make the rendezvous. The front will give a fast ride for any of the fleet that are able to hang onto its coat-tails and benefit from winds predicted to average 30kts and gust higher.
Currently the race is being led by Team Brunel with Dongfeng Racing and the overall leader MAPFRE close behind.
The seven-boat Volvo Ocean Race fleet is expected to arrive in Melbourne at the end of Leg 3 by December 27.