The race for the fastest passage of the Mediterranean leg was won by the women of Team SCA. While the fleet was close together for almost the entire first part of the leg, the team led by skipper Sam Davies decided to break away just before Gibraltar. SCA sailed north towards the Spanish coast, while the other six boats headed south towards the African coast. The strike to the north paid off, with a lead of five to six nautical miles.
However, the wind died again during the passage of the Strait of Gibraltar, Team SCA was sailing against the current, even drifting backwards, and the rest closed the gap. SCA then had better wind again and was the first team to sail into the Atlantic.
However, the situation has already changed again in the current position report, just as the lead changed in all previous reports. After passing the last of three virtual waypoints on the road, Team Vestas was the first to turn south, while SCA stayed the furthest north - and lost. In the current report, the women were listed last. With south-westerly winds of around 16 knots, it is a close-hauled course for the fleet, with the boats placed furthest south being upwind. SCA also has the wind furthest to the front and has already had to cross this morning.
All the boats have reached the Atlantic and the field has fanned out. The gap from north to south was around 15 nautical miles at the last count, but they were all within 14 nautical miles of each other at the finish, with Team Vestas in the lead, followed by Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
Now that they have reached the Atlantic, everyday life on board will presumably be a little easier for the teams - because the very close race in the Mediterranean was extremely physically demanding. "I can feel every muscle in my body," said Gerd-Jan Poortman, bowman for Team Brunel. "Set sail, lower it, set it again, lower it again. Stow everything forwards, then aft again."
Team Vestas Wind Boat Report
Team SCA Boat Report
Team Alvimedica boat report
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
