VOR: First in, First out

(January 16, 2015; Day 14) – A cruel twist of fate is playing out as Alvimedica and SCA are pointing due north and are in much less wind then the rest of the fleet.

The front leaders sail into calm conditions first, the back of the fleet catches up to them… and then it all works in reverse as they sail out the other side. But this time the area of no wind has been so massive that they have been all in it together. Well, up until now.

Dongfeng, MAPFRE, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Brunel are in a 020º NNE wind of about 10 knots and making good progress east. Alvimedica and SCA are just on the wrong side of a transition, and currently sailing away from the mark with a wind direction of 265º. The really bad news is for them is it’s still desperately light. When I just checked, the boat was recording 0.5 knots.

We hope for the fortunes to improve and that the wind fills in to the west, unlocking Alvimedica and SCA from this Bay of Bengal prison.

Tomorrow is another day and the GRIB files are promising low teens for all the fleet from the north east. This will get to the tip of the Malacca Strait this time tomorrow.

The Malacca Strait has new challenges waiting, among them the heat, humidity, brown water, smog, and ships that come thick and fast.

Lady luck will play her hand in the coming weeks sailing before the fleet reaches the South China Sea.

Leg 3 (4,642 nm) Position Report (as of 21:40 UTC)
1. Dongfeng Race Team, Charles Caudrelier (FRA), 1978.1 nm Distance to Finish
2. MAPFRE, Iker Martinez (ESP), 49.2 nm Distance to Lead
3. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Ian Walker (GBR), 58.5 nm DTL
4. Team Brunel, Bouwe Bekking (NED), 64.2 nm DTL
5. Team Alvimedica, Charlie Enright (USA), 86.1 nm DTL
6. Team SCA, Sam Davies (GBR), 101.1 DTL
7. Team Vestas Wind, Chris Nicholson (AUS), Did not start

Race website – Tracking – Scoreboard – Videos

Background: The fleet is now on Leg 3 from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Sanya, China (4,642 nm), which started Jan. 3 with an ETA on or after Jan. 19. 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.