In the Golden Globe Race, avoiding a South Atlantic storm takes precedence over taking the direct route eastwards. After the Race organisers’ daily report for 25 October The leader, Damien Guillou, is now back on an easterly course. The Frenchman had previously sailed north to put some distance between himself and the forecast area of strongest winds.
Northwards instead of further south
As early as 23 October, the race organisers had advised Guillou to abandon the southerly course and head north-east instead. According to the organisers, winds of around 50 knots with gusts of up to 70 knots had been forecast for the course he was on at the time.
The following day, the organisers reported that they had held lengthy discussions with the race leader. Guillou was to stay as far north of the course as possible. Even on this alternative course, the race committee still expected winds of 40 to 50 knots. According to their assessment at the time, Guillou would have to make up around 260 nautical miles to the north in order to avoid the most challenging conditions.
The detour has hit the leader following a stretch of racing that was already full of ups and downs. On 23 October, the organiser put his lead at around 450 nautical miles. Previously, it had been around 750 nautical miles. The race organisers cited calm conditions and extensive work on Guillou’s wind-vane steering system, which is now reportedly working again, as the reasons for this.
Changing winds and choppy seas
For Monday night, the race organisers initially forecast a north-westerly wind of 40 to 50 knots, with gusts of up to 70 knots. With a significant shift to the south-west, conditions were expected to worsen further on Monday. Waves seven to eight metres high, some of which were expected to break, were forecast.
The organiser estimated that the most intense phase of the storm would last around nine hours. This means that, for the solo sailors, it is not just a question of wind strength. The forecast change in wind direction will also alter the conditions under which they have to set their boats to sea.
The pursuers are also veering off course
Guillou wasn’t the only one to change course. According to the daily report of 24 October, Jaco Benadie and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede were also sailing northwards or maintaining more northerly positions in order to put some distance between themselves and the low-pressure system. On 25 October, the race organisers reported that the majority of the fleet was further north in the South Atlantic.
The organisers had already announced that another weather front would arrive from the west on Tuesday and Wednesday, 27 and 28 October. Based on the weather forecast at the time, a prolonged period of calm was therefore not to be expected.
The participants’ most recently submitted positions can be found in the official race tracker track.
What do you think of the decision to take a long detour in order to put more distance between yourselves and the storm?
