24.02.2006
Wind Gods arrange gales
As Brasil 1 (Torben Grael) scorches downwind in the north westerly breeze, running hard across the top of the high pressure ridge, with ABN AMRO TWO (Sebastien Josse) in her wake, the rest of the fleet is hurrying towards the scoring gate, but having to sail upwind. They have every reason to hurry, as just make everything even more interesting, the Wind Gods have arranged gales for the fleet just as it arrives at the ice gate in about 7 – 10 hours time.
At around midnight tonight, gale force winds are forecast for the vicinity of the scoring gate and the boats to the south will not want to be sailing upwind in 50 knots of breeze. Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard), currently in the lead, has only 70 miles to reach the gate and the wind has just freed her, allowing her to sail a better course. But the sailing is difficult as the waves that are left over from the tropical depression are large and the seaway is bigger than the breeze that is blowing, causing constant slamming. It is foggy, drizzling and murky.
“The transition from the north easterlies to the new north westerlies will be another tricky spot where a lot can happen. It will take place tonight, most likely, in the pitch black darkness as there is no moon any more,” said Cayard earlier today.
Brasil 1 has taken 51 miles out of the leaders and ABN AMRO TWO has gained 40 miles, but they both have to make up over 100 miles.
All the crews are preparing for a wet and rough ride ahead. “A few of the boys have dug out their dry suits ready for a wet ride. The general consensus onboard is that having had a pretty dry trip so far, the second half of the southern ocean is going to more than make up for the lack of water over the deck so far,” says Simon Fisher from ABN AMRO TWO.
LEG FOUR DAY 6, 24.2.06, 1000 GMT POSITION REPORT
YACHT
Latitude
Longitude
DTF
SMG
24 Hour Run
24 Hour Speed
DTL
DTLC
SGPTS
PTLPTS
PTLPTS
ETA
POP
POSITION OVERALL
1
POTC
49 07.07S
144 43.67W
05258
07.5
214
08.9
00000
+00008
0
7.0
7.0
11/03/06 __:__:__
28.5
4
2
ABN1
49 13.43S
145 00.89W
05260
06.3
206
08.6
00002
-00001
0
6.0
6.0
11/03/06 __:__:__
44.5
1
3
MOVI
49 17.55S
145 18.03W
05262
05.7
196
08.2
00004
-00004
0
5.0
5.0
11/03/06 __:__:__
30.0
2
4
ERIC
49 35.04S
146 06.93W
05283
05.4
194
08.1
00025
+00000
0
4.0
4.0
11/03/06 __:__:__
20.5
6
5
BRA1
47 06.77S
150 09.88W
05381
14.6
246
10.3
00123
+00051
0
3.0
3.0
11/03/06 __:__:__
23.0
5
6
ABN2
48 57.25S
150 36.38W
05395
11.7
169
07.0
00137
+00040
0
2.0
2.0
11/03/06 __:__:__
30.0
2
ABN1 ABN AMRO ONE
ABN2 ABN AMRO TWO
BRA1 Brasil 1
ERIC Ericsson Racing Team
MOVI movistar
POTC Pirates of the Caribbean
DTF: distance to finish, SMG: Speed made good, DTL: distance to leader,
DTLC: distance to leader change; the difference between the distance from the boat to the leader taken at the time of the last six hour poll, and the distance from the boat to the leader at the previous poll
SGPTS: points scored at scoring gates on this leg to date
PLPTS: projected leg points
PTLPTS: projected total leg points including actual points from scoring gates
PTP: projected overall points including actual points from scoring gates
OVERALL: projected position in race overall if yacht maintains current position
Lizzie Green Press Officer at race headquarters:
Tel: +44 1489 554 832, Mob: +44 7801 185 320
Email: lizzie.green@volvooceanrace.org
Sophie Luther Press Assistant at race headquarters
Mob: +44 7956 285548 email: sophie.luther@volvooceanrace.org
LEG FOUR DAY 6, 24.02.06, 0400 GMT POSITION REPORT
YACHT
Latitude
Longitude
DTF
SMG
24 Hour Run
24 Hour Speed
DTL
DTLC
SGPTS
PTLPTS
PTLPTS
ETA
POP
POSITION OVERALL
1
MOVI
49 43.44S
145 52.64W
05289
09.8
217
09.0
00000
+00000
0
7.0
7.0
10/03/06 __:__:__
32.0
2
2
ABN1
49 45.93S
145 30.49W
05290
11.1
217
09.1
00001
+00008
0
6.0
6.0
10/03/06 __:__:__
44.5
1
3
POTC
49 50.57S
145 00.76W
05297
11.5
229
09.6
00008
+00008
0
5.0
5.0
10/03/06 __:__:__
26.5
4
4
ERIC
50 04.43S
146 27.29W
05314
09.2
210
08.8
00025
-00001
0
4.0
4.0
10/03/06 __:__:__
20.5
6
5
BRA1
47 15.32S
152 18.45W
05463
12.5
209
08.7
00174
+00004
0
3.0
3.0
11/03/06 __:__:__
23.0
5
6
ABN2
49 20.85S
152 17.95W
05466
08.4
140
05.8
00177
-00010
0
2.0
2.0
11/03/06 __:__:__
30.0
3
ABN1 ABN AMRO ONE
ABN2 ABN AMRO TWO
BRA1 Brasil 1
ERIC Ericsson Racing Team
MOVI movistar
POTC Pirates of the Caribbean
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