Sal's Ocean Globe Race Analysis: The Race is far from over
There has been a gale out to the West of Cape Horn. It wasn’t a particularly nasty gale by Southern Ocean standards but, none the less, a full gale. In some ways it will have come as a welcome change. The boats in the Ocean Globe Race have been plagued by variable light wind conditions so far, on their way to Cape Horn, causing the fleet to become spread out with Pen Duick VI and Translated breaking away. As the wind began to build Maiden gained good ground on the mid pack and sailed into a solid third position. Triana, the consistently well sailed Swan 53, is continuing to punch well above her weight and is hanging on to the boats in the mid pack.
The fleet were given a weather warning by the race control at the weekend so were well prepared for the difficult conditions. They had time for rig checks and preparing the storm sails they may have needed. Normal day to day tasks such as eating and drinking become very difficult in stormy conditions so there would be some forward planning including flasks of hot water rather than trying to boil kettles and risking scalding. It is important that the crew is kept fed and hydrated even when things get difficult.
Pen Duick is at Cape Horn now with Translated half a day behind. Maiden is expected to round on Thursday morning. As the boats are not using GPS , making an accurate landfall at such an inhospitable place is going to be testing for the navigators. Although it is the most iconic of the Great Capes there will be considerable relief when they make it round and hang a sharp left back into the Atlantic. The race is far from over, we can expect some more difficult conditions over the coming days. - Sal
Sally (Sal) Hunter was part of the original Maiden crew to sail around the world in the 89/90 Whitbread Race. Sal has joined the Maiden Shore Team for the duration of the Ocean Globe Race, tracking Maiden and keeping us updated with sailing analysis updates! Screenshot from YB Tracking.
