Volvo Ocean Race Leg 4 - Fleet Gybes for Stronger Winds
by Volvo Ocean Race Media 30 Jan 2002 07:24 GMT
Team News Corp's Jeff Scott, Justin Slatery & Barney Walker on deck reaching off the North Island East coast
Photos © Nick White / Team News Corp |
All the V.O.60s except Amer Sports Too have gybed in the hope of finding stronger winds, which they expect to pick up soon, helping them to obtain a faster route south. Roger Nilson, navigator on Amer Sports One, said, "We expect the wind to increase and to move to the left. we are currently
within half a mile of ASSA ABLOY."
The weather predictions expect the high pressure which has caused the lighter winds of the last couple of days, to elongate and remain slow moving just to the north of the fleet. As Nilson is predicting, the forecast also expects the wind to pick up to around 20 knots later from a
northwesterly direction.
This could give djuice an opportunity to gain some distance first, as she is the furthest west of the fleet. News Corp and SEB are furthest to the east and therefore have fewer miles to sail at this time, but it remains to be seen what will happen, as Amer Sports One is now the most southerly
boat.
Update from 22:00, Day 3 - SEB Snatches Lead
Most of the yachts have already crossed the date line, gaining 24 hours in a moment. While yesterday they would have been the first ones to welcome the new day to the world, today they will be the last ones to see the sun set.
In the oscillating wind conditions, the Swedish yacht SEB found the fastest path and moved into the lead over the last six hours. Amazingly, four yachts, News Corp, Amer Sports One, illbruck and ASSA ABLOY are at the same distance from finish and six yachts are within two miles. ASSA ABLOY made the biggest gains as they continuously came back to the fleet, then crossed Amer Sports One's wake and right now, are sailing approximately 500 metres on her port side.
Djuice is still confident with the westerly route, even though they have lost two miles and Amer Sports Too just 13 miles behind.
Position Report: Leg 4, Day 4, 0403 GMT
| Pos | Yacht Name | Lat | Long | DTF | DTL | CMG | SMG | VMG | ETA |
|---|
| 1 | SEB | 45 22.00S | 179 14.80W | 6076 | 0 | 150 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 19 FEB 02 22:01 GMT |
| 2 | ASSA ABLOY | 45 24.64S | 179 21.08W | 6077 | 1 | 152 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 19 FEB 02 22:03 GMT |
| 3 | News Corporation | 45 20.60S | 179 13.20W | 6077 | 1 | 151 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 19 FEB 02 22:04 GMT |
| 4 | Amer Sports One | 45 25.16S | 179 23.24W | 6077 | 1 | 153 | 9.4 | 8.5 | 19 FEB 02 22:06 GMT |
| 5 | illbruck | 45 22.92S | 179 21.28W | 6078 | 2 | 153 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 19 FEB 02 22:11 GMT |
| 6 | Tyco | 45 23.20S | 179 25.64W | 6080 | 4 | 156 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 19 FEB 02 22:18 GMT |
| 7 | djuice | 45 23.68S | 179 33.68W | 6083 | 7 | 152 | 9.8 | 8.4 | 19 FEB 02 22:34 GMT |
| 8 | Amer Sports Too | 44 59.48S | 179 29.56W | 6101 | 25 | 154 | 9.2 | 8.2 | 20 FEB 02 00:01 GMT |
Update from Steve Hayles, Tyco - Sunfish or Shark?
I can't remember the quote exactly but it goes something like 'below forty there is no mercy, and below 50 there is no God'. If I have it wrong I am sure someone out there will correct me, but either way it is definitely not holding true right now.
Sailing at night with a very bright and clear sky in comfortable temperatures and a perfectly flat sea is hardly what we expect on this leg, but none of us are that easily fooled. We are all very aware that in a day or two from now, we will be pushing south across the 50 degree line and further on into the strong westerly gales and much colder sea and air temperatures.
The racing, as I am sure everyone is fed up with hearing, is very close and position reports mean very little, as we have constant visual or radar contact with most of the boats and the leader board has little relevance with so many miles to go and such a small distance separating the boats.
A little drama on board last night as we found ourselves yet again with something hooked up on the rudder. We have a custom made curved weed stick which we can use from on board to clear weed and small bags etc without stopping, but it doesn't work so well with sharks .. it was dark and hard to see but there was a sizeable sunfish or shark around the rudder, which forced us to drop the chute and 'back down' to clear it. Apart from that one incident there is very little else to report in conditions that we would expect to encounter on the first leg.
No complaints though and I am sure that we will have more than our fair share of excitement in the weeks to come, to make up for any monotony now. Here's to one more really good sleep before the fun begins.
Update from Grant Wharington, djuice - Crossing the Date Line
Today is the January 30 2002, day 4 of leg 4 of the great Volvo Ocean Race. For me, today is the first time I have crossed the International Date Line; maybe I can fix the mistakes I made yesterday? We are sailing along the edge of a very large high pressure system, which is keeping our
speed down and prolonging our excitement of the high speed reaching and running in the Southern Ocean [to come]. We must wait another couple of days for this pleasure! The upside to this is that our clothes are dry and we are enjoying the sun. This reminds me more of an equator crossing than a dive into the screaming 60s [variation on the Roaring Forties] .
Our spirits are high and the fleet is in close contact, which makes for great yacht racing.
Update from Lisa McDonald, Amer Sports Too - Walking on Eggshells
Being this close to the centre of such a big high pressure system is like walking on eggshells. As soon as the wind shifts and starts to drop I hold my breath for a quick glance at the barometer. so far so good. The only thing that would ruin this cool running downwind with light tropical airs, would be to get swallowed up by the high pressure and stop. We are just skirting the edge of the system and staying in enough breeze to keep us rolling along with hopes of finding the wave to take us south. It seems crazy with all the weather routing wanting us to go east, east, east and yet the fleet stays tight and dives south.
The albatrosses have started to appear. They have come to escort us to the great wilds of the south. Currently we sit here in light tropical easy weather lulling us into a false sense of security for what is to come.
More Information: