Bouwe Bekking's Team Brunel has been leading the Volvo Ocean Race fleet on course for Newport since 1 May. The Dutch-flagged team took command on Labour Day and has not relinquished it since. But now the boats are moving closer together again. The pursuers are piling on the pressure. Of the total of 5700 nautical miles, the first boats still have around 1400 to master - including a few challenges.
Bouwe Bekking wrote on Friday afternoon: "We are stepping on the accelerator as hard as we can. We know that we are sailing into less wind. So the chasers will continue to gain on us. That's annoying, but it's a fact we have to live with. Our navigator Capey is relaxed in his own way. But he sees and feels that it's full steam ahead now. I don't know how many simulations he calculates for the possible routes from here to Newport... And we also discuss this with Pete(Burling, the ed.). Two very important factors are the high-pressure system east of Bermuda and the Gulf Stream, which flows north-eastwards from Florida towards Europe. Its current speed can be up to 5 or 6 knots."
Where the fleet is and how it will continue to Newport
Record participant Bouwe went on to explain: "Unfortunately, this is not a straight stream. It has its eddies. So if you go about it the wrong way, you're sailing against a five-knot current while another boat is sailing at five knots. You can see your losses every hour. But we are confident."
Dee Caffari, whose team had fallen behind Brunel, Dongfeng Race Team and Vestas 11th Hour Racing step by step in the last position reports and has now accumulated a gap of almost 30 nautical miles to Brunel, is also aware of the upcoming hurdles, which could just as well be opportunities. "We have about two more days of sailing on this express motorway. After that the wind will drop before we jibe. We can then expect a lot of action and many sail changes until the finish. In between, we will pass the Gulf Stream and have to deal with much colder conditions and winds from the north. There will be no more complaints about the heat. That's for sure."
While the first six boats up to AkzoNobel are only separated by around 40 nautical miles, stragglers Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag are still struggling to catch up with the fleet at just under 180 nautical miles. David Witt's team will have to hope that the leading boats slow down considerably if they want to get back into the fight for points.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
