Volvo Ocean Race: Multiple-choice test for the navigators: Who is right?
Tatjana Pokorny
· 21.05.2018
Dongfeng's navigator Pascal Bidégorry had already explained it on Monday, one day after the start off Newport: "There are different ways to reach Cardiff. Perhaps very different ways. The choice is not easy." In the meantime, however, all the teams have made their choice. Dongfeng, Mapfre and Turn the Tide on Plastic headed north on Monday and have since sailed much further north than Brunel, Vestas, AkzoNobel and Sun Hun Kai / Scallywag. With unpleasant consequences, as the northern trio are struggling along in light winds of around 8 knots, while the southern quartet are racing eastwards in glorious 20 knots and more of wind at similarly fast boat speeds.
For the old and new leaders Brunel, Vestas, AkzoNobel and Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, things are going splendidly, as can be clearly seen in the live tracker if you switch on the wind animation and superimpose it over the course. As if a red carpet had been spread out for the leading boats, they are making progress twice as fast as the current "losers" in the north, who in turn are hoping for fresh wind from the south. The game of wind poker will continue for a few more days. Only time will tell which investments will have paid off.
