Sal's Ocean Globe Race Analysis: The Southern Ocean is proving tricky for the Ocean Globe Fleet
The Southern Ocean is proving tricky for the Ocean Globe Fleet. They were all set for big breeze and fast, exhausting, brutal sailing. The reality has been somewhat different. The navigators have had a difficult job trying to find best of the light airs, and avoid the many high pressure holes in the breeze that have been constantly moving around, joining up to make bigger holes.
Maiden spotted an orange floating object, which they were worried was a life raft, so went back to check. It was actually a large orange buoy. They reported in to Race Control and have been compensated the time it took them. It was a bad time for that to happen with such variable wind, adding another element to an already difficult part of the Leg. The myriad of little weather systems will have had they pouring over their information and doing their best to put the boats in a good position. The crews have had a frustrating and tiring time too, with constant trimming and many sail changes to keep as much boat speed as possible. At the back of the fleet, Explorer and Sterna have had very different weather. They had a gale yesterday. Preparations were made to shorten sail well in advance of the strong winds so the boats cracked on without any problems.Further on, towards Cape Horn the leaders are getting into more solid Northerlies. Things are looking up for them when the wind backs round to a strong Southerly wind, as low pressure comes in from the south west under the fleet. They look set to have a fast, exciting, bitterly cold few days to carry them close to Cape Horn. Looking at the AIS satellite tracker, the Southern Ocean is a remarkably busy place at the moment with a lot of yachts on their way to Cape Horn. Despite the vastness if the Ocean, close encounters do happen. The Ultima Trimaran Gitana was surprised to get a collision warning on their AIS. It was Sterna, doing 8 knots while Gitana was doing 35, so fair to say, it was a brief encounter.
For the past couple of days the Global Solo Challenge Race had been sailing through the OGR boats and have at times been within sight of each other. It must be a good for the morale of those single handed sailors to speak on the VHF, and know that there are many other people out there doing their best in that hostile, lonely environment. -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
