22.01.2001
Wind, cold and the danger of icebergs
are not enough to make the crews forget that they are racing.
In the westerly flows of the Southern
Ocean, Club Med and Innovation Explorer are looking for the best route.
Are we already getting used to the amazing performances produced by the giant
catamarans taking part in The Race? Club Med and Innovation Explorer are
averaging 500 miles a day, equivalent to an average speed of over 20 knots. Three
weeks after setting out from Barcelona, the race leader has almost reached the Crozet Islands.
The front runners have now been racing in the Roaring Forties for six days, and a
subtle tactical battle is being fought to try to make the best use of the shifts in the
westerly wind flows as they occasionally veer northerly at 20-25 knots – gusts of
close to 30 knots are expected tonight. Club Med has a head start on her pursuer.
She is positioned at the tail end of the weather system ahead of the one in which
Innovation Explorer is sailing. More significantly, the weather forecast for the next
24 hours seems favour the big blue cat in front.
Warta-Polpharma is still heading south, actually steering slightly west at 195° and
making slow progress. Roman Paszke and his crew are being punished by the
weather conditions, as a huge area of high pressure spreads west. 700 miles further
north, Team Legato has begun to pick up pace at last, on a stiffening easterly wind
stiffens.
DB
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