Ericsson 4, with Torben Grael at the helm, leads away from the start of Leg 4. Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team.
by Victoria Low
Ericsson Racing Team's two yachts put forth a strong showing today in a short circuit off Singapore before embarking on Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race, a 2,500-nautical-mile passage to China.
Although much of the leg is expected to be upwind, the first four-plus hours have seen the fleet tight reaching at speeds between 12 and 13 knots. At the 1000 GMT position report, Torben Grael's International crew shared the fleet lead, with 2,414 nautical miles to the finish. Magnus Olsson's Nordic crew was pacing 2 miles behind.
Pre-race talk has speculated on the severity of the conditions the fleet might experience on the way to the finish port of Qingdao, China, but today's start was contrary to those expectations. A north/northeasterly wind around 12 knots, with gusts up to 15 knots, and flat seas propelled the fleet around a 6-mile triangle off the coast of Singapore.
Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4 soon after the start of Leg 4. Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team.
Ericsson 4 and Ericsson 3 were first and third at the first mark after working the right side of the initial leg. Grael and the International crew sailed strong, winning the boat end of the start line and working the right side of the beat.
On starboard tack and halfway to the first mark Grael and mates forced Puma to tack on their lee bow, and then lifted off their rival to secure the lead. The International crew held the lead around the triangle and onto the open course.
Ericsson 3 also sailed strongly. Olsson's Nordic crew worked the middle right of the beat and rolled over Green Dragon at the top mark for third place. The Nordic crew's energy was evident when it pulled off a flawless set to the asymmetric gennaker.
The second leg was a run, followed by a jib reach back to the race committee boat at which time the boats were freed onto the course. The order at the committee boat was Ericsson 4, Puma, Green Dragon, Ericsson 3, Telefónica Blue, Telefónica Black and Delta Lloyd.
Leg 4 is expected to last between 12 and 14 days, depending on the severity of the conditions and how much the crews must throttle back to prevent damage to their boat.
The first tactical hurdle will come in two or three days, when skippers and navigators have to decide whether to pass to the west or east of Dangerous Grounds, an area of shoals and atolls to the west of the Philippine island of Palawan. It's a shorter distance to the west, but the conditions to the east might be less damaging.
"Basically, we can't sail into Dangerous Grounds," said Tony Mutter, trimmer and helmsman for Ericsson 4. "It depends on a shift whether we tack before it (and go west) or have to go east of it. That could be the first split. If the tail-enders split west and the leaders go east, they could catch up again."
Leg 4 takes the fleet from the tropical luxuries of Singapore (at 1.4 North latitude) to Qingdao (at 36.1 N), host last summer to the Olympic Regatta but now in the grips of winter.
As the fleet progresses across the South China Sea, past Taiwan, into the East China Sea and then the Yellow Sea, the air and sea temperatures are expected to fall to freezing levels or colder. Additionally, the wind and wave states at Luzon Strait, between southern Taiwan and northern Philippines, could be brutal.
"For the first five days it's fine, followed by two bad days, and then fine the rest of the way to China," said Olsson. "The two bad days in Luzon Strait will decide the outcome of the race. It's going to blow like stink, and there'll be lots of current with us and against the wind. The sea state will be really crazy."
VOLVO OCEAN RACE LEG 4 LEADERBOARD
(Jan. 18, 2009, 1000 GMT)
1. Ericsson 4, 2,414 nautical miles to finish
1. Puma, same
3. Telefónica Blue, +1 NM
4. Ericsson 3, +2 NM
4. Green Dragon, same
4. Telefónica Black, same
7. Delta Lloyd, +3 NM
Ericsson Racing Team
Volvo Ocean Race
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