Nothing more should really happen. 140 nautical miles before the finish in Sanya, Dongfeng Race Team was leading by over 50 nautical miles. In addition, skipper Charles Caudrelier had positioned the boat slightly to windward of the pursuers, giving him a controlling position on a half-wind course towards the Chinese harbour city. The victory could now only be taken from him and his team by a material error. With a final speed of around eight knots, Dongfeng Race Team should sail to the finish in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
This was preceded by a tactically masterfully sailed leg; even on the last stretch through the South China Sea, the team risked nothing and was always in a dominant position. This was particularly difficult under the Vietnamese coast, when Dongfeng alone tacked 13 times and everyone had to avoid a fleet of hundreds of fishing boats and nets.
Impressive shots of the slalom through the fishing boat armada on Vietnam's south coast
The cards for the outcome of this leg also seem to have been laid out in the chasing quartet. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Team Alvimedica, Mapfre and Team Brunel are each around ten nautical miles apart. In view of the balance of the teams so far, major shifts are unlikely.
Team SCA is lagging behind with 180 nautical miles.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
