They stare each other down, they fight each other, and they fight for the best starting position for the current race heading for the American sailing capital of Newport: Dongfeng Race Team, which was narrowly in the lead towards the end of the second day of the eighth leg, the Spanish rivals from Team Mapfre - the two teams are also known as "the Reds" due to the colour of their boats - and Bouwe Bekking's newly strengthened Team Brunel (yellow boat) are engaged in a gripping three-way battle for the lead in the South Atlantic off the Brazilian coast and roughly at the level of Rio de Janeiro. On Tuesday lunchtime, the three boats were separated by less than three nautical miles. The almost permanent visual contact with their opponents makes for extra tension.
The 5,700 nautical mile leg from Itajaí in Brazil to Newport brings new challenges after the hardships and dramas of the Southern Ocean leg around Cape Horn: strategy and tactics are in high demand alongside optimum boat speed. On the course northwards, it is important to avoid forbidden areas and reach the fresh wind from the east first.
... told in 137 seconds!
"We have good hype in the team after winning the last stage," said Bouwe Bekking before the start last Sunday and made it clear that his team wants to attack the front runners. "There are still a lot of points on the table. We are orientated towards the top!" Bekking reported that his team had aimed for a podium finish on the last stage and then exceeded their own expectations. "All teams are beatable," said the record-breaking participant with a fighting spirit. The first 1000 nautical miles or so have been completed. Another 4700 or so are still to go to the destination harbour of Newport, where the fleet is expected to arrive at the end of the first week in May.
