05 JUNE 2006
Volatile and variable
Earlier this morning the six-boat fleet racing in leg eight of the Volvo Ocean Race passed the famous Fastnet Rock, in what seems like the slowest passage ever. The leaders have now passed Mizzen Head and are heading north towards Gt. Skellig on the south west tip of Ireland.
The frustration of sailing in volatile and variable light airs will continue for at least another 24 hours as the large area of high pressure is drifting slowly east. The fleet is eagerly awaiting the stronger south-south westerly winds on the western periphery of the high. The average speed over the last 24-hours for leading yacht Ericsson (Neal McDonald) is only 5.4 knots and only 129 miles have been covered in that period.
Ericsson still leads the fleet in the north, with Brasil 1 (Torben Grael) hot on their heels, just a mile behind, and watching every move. ABN AMRO ONE (Mike Sanderson) has taken a more southerly route, and the rest of the fleet have taken the same decision.
With still over 1000 miles to cover to reach the finish in Rotterdam, leg eight is slow going, although only 14 miles separate the fleet from first to last, and the contest is still open.
LEG EIGHT DAY 04 1000 GMT POSITION REPORT
Leg Standing
Yacht
Latitude
Longitude
Distance To Finish
Speed Made Good
24 Hour Run
24 Hour Speed
Distance To Leader
Distance To Leader Change
Projected Leg Points
Estimated Time of Arrival
Projected Race Points
Projected Overall Standings
1
ERIC
51 41.75N
010 24.85W
1094
6.5
129
5.4
0
1
7
09/06/06 23:__:__
52
4
2
BRA1
51 40.11N
010 27.79W
1095
6.4
130
5.4
1
-1
6
09/06/06 23:__:__
58
3
3
POTC
51 32.38N
010 12.10W
1106
4.7
117
4.9
12
-10
5
10/06/06 00:__:__
64.5
2
4
AUS1
51 31.10N
010 13.27W
1106
5.1
129
5.4
12
-8
4
10/06/06 00:__:__
12
7
5
ABN1
51 30.32N
010 12.34W
1107
4.8
133
5.5
13
-10
3
10/06/06 00:__:__
87.5
1
6
ABN2
51 29.93N
010 11.68W
1108
4.6
124
5.2
14
-12
2
10/06/06 00:__:__
50.5
5
ABN1 ABN AMRO ONE
ABN2 ABN AMRO TWO
BRA1 Brasil 1
AUS1 Brunel
ERIC Ericsson Racing Team
POTC Pirates of the Caribbean
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
Lizzie GreenPress Officer at race headquarters:
Tel: +44 1489 554 832, Mob: +44 7801 185 320
Email: lizzie.green@volvooceanrace.org mailto:lizzie.green@volvooceanrace.org
Sophie Luther Press Assistant at race headquarters
Mob: +44 7956 285548 email: sophie.luther@volvooceanrace.org
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