Another final thriller in the Volvo Ocean Race! Bouwe Bekking's Team Brunel is stubbornly defending its lead on leg 8, but Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team, which leads the overall standings, and Charlie Enright's Team Vestas 11th Hour Racing are clinging to the yellow boat's stern. Dongfeng in particular has repeatedly come within a few nautical miles of the "flying Dutchmen" over the past few days. There is often visual contact. So far, however, Dongfeng has not been able to get past Brunel. On Sunday lunchtime, the yellow and red boats were separated by around eight nautical miles. Vestas has also caught up, but still has to make up 16 nautical miles on the last complicated 600 nautical miles to the stage harbour of Newport.
The tasks to be solved in the final sprint are complex, as the route to Newport is blocked by a belt of doldrums. Team Brunel has positioned itself furthest west and therefore closer to the direct line to Newport. Vestas is currently the easternmost boat in this three-way battle and could benefit the most if the trio decides to sail around the dangerously windless strip to the east. The front runners are expected to cross the finish line on Tuesday night or early Tuesday morning. Until then, the motto of the teams on the leading boats is likely to be the same: "Breathless to Newport".
"We would obviously prefer to be in the lead, but our position is not too bad. We're pretty close. It could look a lot worse," said Charles Caudrelier, referring to the final sprint that has kept the crews on tenterhooks for days. Vestas navigator Simon Fisher is also certain: "The full action will happen in quick succession at the end. An area of high pressure is coming towards us. The wind will continue to drop while we have to catch the right moment for the final gybe. Our biggest rivals are positioned further west. They will have better pressure, but we could get the wind shift first." Brunel's skipper Bouwe Bekking also knows that his team must now give everything to maintain the lead they fought for on 1 May and have defended ever since: "Everyone on board is in sprint mode so that we can maintain our precious little lead."
