MAPFRE takes easterly flier

(November 30, 2014; Day 12) – It’s the dream of any team to pull a move that results in such a gain that they leave the opposition with their jaws on the floor. For the six remaining teams in the Volvo Ocean Race, MAPFRE is trying to pull off just that sort of move.

While the top three are in agreement, heading northeast together, the Spanish team made their move and headed due east. Alone. Now with 100nm leverage, skipper Iker Martínez and navigator Jean-Luc Nélias are hoping to hook up with a possible easterly shift in the wind to help them through a more confused area to the west. Click here for more.

Looking at the latest weather forecast across the fleet, the next 48 hours will be a very tricky period indeed. There are 400nm to sail due north before getting to the more solid westerlies.

Right now, it doesn’t look like there is a dramatic improvement in conditions to the east to warrant such a bold move. It may be that they have to go even further to make it count. An adventurous move for a team that was leading just a few days ago.

Meanwhile, Team Alvimedica, which had been on standby until the crew on the disabled Team Vestas Wind were secure (click here for details), are back in the race and Charlie Enright’s guys are marching along 60nm to the west of the leaders. The team will receive a time allowance to compensate for their support of Vestas Wind.

Leg 2 Position Report (as of 21:40 UTC)
1. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Ian Walker (GBR), 2492.3 nm Distance to Finish
2. Team Brunel, Bouwe Bekking (NED), 68.3 nm Distance to Lead
3. Dongfeng Race Team, Charles Caudrelier (FRA), 72.5 nm DTL
4. Team SCA, Sam Davies (GBR), 134.0 DTL
5. Team Alvimedica, Charlie Enright (USA), 137.3 nm DTL
6. MAPFRE, Iker Martinez (ESP), 191.5 nm DTL
7. Team Vestas Wind, Chris Nicholson (AUS), Suspended racing

Race website – Tracking – Watch log – Videos

Background: The 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race began in Alicante, Spain on Oct. 11 with the final finish on June 27 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Racing the new one design Volvo Ocean 65, seven teams will be scoring points in 9 offshore legs to determine the overall Volvo Ocean Race winner. Additionally, the teams will compete in 10 In-Port races at each stopover for a separate competition – the Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Series. The second offshore leg from Cape Town, SA to Abu Dhabi, UAE is 6,125 nm, started Nov. 19 with an ETA of Dec. 9-16.