Chinese team remains in phase on Chinese leg

(January 13, 2015; Day 11) – After their park-up in the lee of Sri Lanka, the Volvo Ocean Race has now escaped the wind shadow and again stretching their legs toward the next waypoint – the Malacca Strait – 600 nm ahead.

Dongfeng continues to survive the strategic hurdles, increasing their lead while all the teams except SCA now fit within a 8nm circle. Memories of the stressful turn into the Bay of Bengal have been erased by beam winds of 15-20 knots and warm water.

Matt Knighton reported today’s fashion on Abu Dhabi to be the Musto spray jacket on top with shorts on the bottom.

“The type of sportswear that only means one thing: I’m ready to get wet, but let’s not take this too seriously,” explains Knighton. “Judging by the smiles all around the cockpit, everyone was in agreement: it was nice not hearing the bow drudgingly slap the glassy water for once.”

Race analyst Mark Chisnell reports that section of the typically finds a relatively steady north-easterly monsoon breeze – making it a very tight reach, or a long, single leg upwind on port tack. However, this time it could be a little different.

“As the forecast shows that a low pressure wave will form in the Bay of Bengal over the next couple of days. It will kill the wind on the rhumb line, and may well turn the second half of the leg into a dead beat upwind into an easterly – ouch!”

Leg 3 Position Report (as of 21:40 UTC)
1. Dongfeng Race Team, Charles Caudrelier (FRA), 2351.0 nm Distance to Finish
2. Team Brunel, Bouwe Bekking (NED), 40.3 nm Distance to Lead
3. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Ian Walker (GBR), 42.7 nm DTL
4. MAPFRE, Iker Martinez (ESP), 44.4 nm DTL
5. Team Alvimedica, Charlie Enright (USA), 48.4 nm DTL
6. Team SCA, Sam Davies (GBR), 75.8 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.