Volvo OR - Punishing first night for team AkzoNobel

team AkzoNobel heads into big seas and 45kt winds on the first hours of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race © Thierry Martinez / teamAkzoNobel

team AkzoNobel heads into big seas and 45kt winds on the first hours of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race © Thierry Martinez / teamAkzoNobel

team AkzoNobel heads into big seas and 45kt winds on the first hours of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race © Thierry Martinez / teamAkzoNobel

As predicted the first night of Leg 3 was a punishing one for team AkzoNobel and the rest of the seven-boat fleet as they pounded into 45-knot headwinds and huge breaking waves kicked up by the Agulhas Current that weaves its way around the waters off the Cape of Good Hope.
Happily, the wind and sea state have moderated overnight as the fleet started to feel the effects of a ridge of high pressure that will turn the wind to the south and likely soon mean a tack (major change of direction of the boat sailing upwind) to the east.

This morning at 0700 UTC (0800 CET) team AkzoNobel was sailing at 12 knots in 13 knots of wind in fourth place – three nautical miles (five and half kilometers) behind the leading trio Mapfre (ESP), Dongfeng Race Team (CHN) and Team Brunel (NED).

The strategy over the next 24 hours for the team AkzoNobel crew is to position themselves in the path of an easterly moving storm system packing 30 – 40 knot winds that will set them off on a high-speed sleigh ride into the Southern Ocean.

team AkzoNobel heads into big seas and 45kt winds on the first hours of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race. - photo © Thierry Martinez/teamAkzoNobel

team AkzoNobel heads into big seas and 45kt winds on the first hours of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race. - photo © Thierry Martinez/teamAkzoNobel

team AkzoNobel heads into big seas and 45kt winds on the first hours of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race. - photo © Thierry Martinez/teamAkzoNobel

team AkzoNobel heads into big seas and 45kt winds on the first hours of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race. - photo © Thierry Martinez/teamAkzoNobel

team AkzoNobel heads into big seas and 45kt winds on the first hours of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race. - photo © Thierry Martinez/teamAkzoNobel