HUGO BOSS. Image copyright Alex Thomson Racing.
by Barcelona World Race media
Hugo Boss started their technical stop last night at 1749hrs UTC and were moored in Stanley’s outer harbour awaiting lighter winds, making ready to dock alongside a jetty in the sanctuary of the inside harbour.
HUGO BOSS. Image copyright Alex Thomson Racing.
Virbac-Paprec 3 were 220nm south of the Equator this morning at 0400hrs UTC with a lead on the water of about 320 miles direct over MAPFRE. MAPFRE appear to have been slightly quicker overnight, making just over 12 miles more towards the finish than their French rivals.
Jean-Pierre Dick reports having seen a magnificent whale yesterday afternoon:
“In the quiet of the afternoon we came across a majestic whale with its powerful breathing. We took it on in a speed test, and won even though we were doing only three knots. We passed this magical ocean mammal. I think its sleep was good! But it was a ray of sunshine in an otherwise featureless day with no wind. This calm is particularly sticky and it seems like we will pay dearly this year for the miles, this famous zone is deciding to come back north with us.”
Renault Z.E Sailing Team have held up their speed well overnight making around 16 knots which ensures their lead to Neutrogena has remained pretty steady. And it looks liked Pachi Rivero and Toño Piris will hold on to their SE’ly 18-20kts breeze for some of today before they start to reach the transition zone and lighter winds.
The duel between Neutrogena in fourth and Estrella Damm sees the Spanish duo Alex Pella and Pepe Ribes make some significant gains overnight, earning 18 miles on Boris Herrmann and Ryan Breymaier to put themselves 61 miles behind Neutrogena. And the small speed advantage seems to stay with the chasing Estrella Damm which may have more breeze.
Wouter Verbraak asleep on board HUGO BOSS. Image copyright Andy Meiklejohn/Alex Thomson Racing.
The GAES Centros Auditovos girls are negotiating with the centre of the high pressure this morning, fighting steadily to emerge into the building N’lies as they start to get clear of the worst of the middle of the system. But Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella were making just 5-7 knots this morning but those NW’lies could start to build for them by the late afternoon.
Dee Caffari reported: " We should be frsutrated at the slow progress and the light and shifty winds but the truth is different to that. We are loving the fact that after getting up from slumber you can pop on deck without the need for lots of layers and drive in the flat water illuminated by the moon and gaze at the stars. It is beautiful, however the clear sky and lack of clouds an indication that we are crossing the high pressure centre. I hope the variable light winds do not last long and we reach the more stable winds to the west soon. Mind you watching the sea temperature rise could mean we finally get to enjoy shower time!!"
FMC’s countdown to Cape Horn continues with 870 miles to go while We Are Water make 12-13 knots towards the Mid Pacific gate.
And yesterday evening a rendezvous took place between Mirabaud and the Argentine Navy’s Drummond class combat ship A.R.A. "GRANVILLE” which sent out a RIB to deliver additional fuel to Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret. Mirabaud had 280 nm to make to Mar de Plata this morning.
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