Virtual Volvo - 5 days into the race

A few days into the race, the almost 30 000 players should have settled into sort of a routine following the stress of sailing into the Mediterranean Sea and some frustration experienced in Gibraltar’s straight. Checking our ranking, weather data and course every so often, I am told that some of us are even waking up every couple of hours to make sure everything is fine with our boat !!!

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What a race !
The leading group of five took an amazing lead over the rest of us. In a scenario when the ‘rich getting richer’, these guys have been sailing together for the last 36 hours and their lead has extended to a staggering 150 miles. Checking each other’s move, these five are following the same route and none of them dare to break away from the group. Will they sail like that all the way to the gate in Brazil? Probably not as the Doldrums will most certainly beak this group.

The chasing pack:
Behind the leaders the chase is raging along the African coast. Using every single lift to gybe or stay in the best pressure, the majority of the fleet is sailing South. However the choice of where to cross the doldrums will have to be made within the next couple of days. From my observation it would appear that ‘hurricane’ is now committed to go West in an attempt to catch up on the leader. This early bold move may well be the make or break for this skipper.

Auto pilot:
Trying to figure out how to make the best out of my V70 in this wind conditions, I noticed that my boat always reached her top speed whilst sailing at 140 degrees wind angle. I checked and double checked this info several time before deciding to put my boat under Auto Pilot. At least, when the wind changes slightly, my heading is adjusted to maintain this 140 angle with the wind. I am not 100% certain that this the fastest way to go south but at least I feel comfortable with it.

Flying fish:
We are now about to enter a zone whereby our deck should be filled by flying fish. The weather is getting warmer and these guys loves to fly from wave to wave. Unfortunately or them our sails are often in their flying path and after having smashed their head against our massive mainsail, they land on the deck of our V70s. Not a bad way to accommodate the freeze dry food if you think about it!!