Pitfalls of high pressure lie ahead for Volvo fleet

(November 22, 2014; Day 4) – Among the seven Volvo Ocean Race teams, the perspective of sailing towards the high-pressure system that drifts north of the fleet has not been that tempting. Until everyone locks into the northerly track, the position reports will not count for much at this time.

Nov. 22, 21:40

Leg 2 Position Report (as of 21:40 UTC)
1. Dongfeng Race Team, Charles Caudrelier (FRA), 4388.5 nm Distance to Finish
2. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Ian Walker (GBR), 1.5 Distance to Lead
3. Team Alvimedica, Charlie Enright (USA), 7.9 nm DTL
4. MAPFRE, Iker Martinez (ESP), 10.0 nm nm DTL
5. Team Brunel, Bouwe Bekking (NED), 17.5 nm DTL
6. Team Vestas Wind, Chris Nicholson (AUS), 23.2 nm DTL
7. Team SCA, Sam Davies (GBR), 37.4 DTL

Race website – Tracking – Watch log – Videos

Weather: PredictWind has created a 7-day weather routing video that carries the fleet through the forecasted conditions. See below.

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.