Volvo Ocean Race: North or South, that is the question

The snapshot does not look good for the duo in the north. Less wind, less speed, around five to ten nautical miles more behind in the position reports, which come in every three hours. Team Brunel and Team SCA seem to have galloped off with the more northerly course. Especially as the quartet in the south is almost on the ideal line, the direct course, while the duo is 160 nautical miles away.

But this line is still irrelevant, as it is still a long way to the next waypoint. Much more important is who gets a breath of fresh air or stays in it. And things don't look too bad for the northern duo. Both Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker and Alvimedica navigator Will Oxley had assumed that the northern route would pay off more. And although the expected stronger wind is not blowing as fast as forecast, it is supposed to come from the north-east, which means the two boats would have it earlier and from a favourable angle. So nothing has been decided yet.

The current video summary

Meanwhile, the four teams in the south are practising the familiar game of gaining the smallest of leads against their opponents. Most recently, Abu Dhabi had the luckier hand and pulled away by five nautical miles.

You can find the current distances and dates here...