The Next Big Tactical Question

(January 7, 2015; Day 5) – Weather systems finally allowed the Volvo Ocean Race fleet to extend from India’s coastline and into the Arabian Sea. While the coastline tactics had been engaging, the obstacles of local fishing was not.

“Everyone was aware that all we needed was a half hour tangled in a fishing net to lose our lead,” reports Sam Greenfield on Dongfeng. “So the crew pushed even harder, ever vigilant of merchants and submerged debris, steering through a slalom course of small, wooden fishing boats.”

After a long starboard reach, about half way to Oman, all but SCA have gybed to port for their approach to the bottom of India and Sri Lanka. How close to make the turn east around Sri Lanka is the next big tactical question.

Leg 3 Position Report (as of 21:55 UTC)
1. Dongfeng Race Team, Charles Caudrelier (FRA), 3813.5 nm Distance to Finish
2. Team Brunel, Bouwe Bekking (NED), 5.5 nm Distance to Lead
3. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Ian Walker (GBR), 7.9 nm DTL
4. Team Alvimedica, Charlie Enright (USA), 8.8 nm DTL
5. MAPFRE, Iker Martinez (ESP), 11.6 nm DTL
6. Team SCA, Sam Davies (GBR), 16.0 DTL
7. Team Vestas Wind, Chris Nicholson (AUS), Did not start

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 third offshore leg from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Sanya, China is 4,642 nm, started Jan. 3 with the ETA on or after Jan. 19.