Team Brunel's skipper Bouwe Bekking and his team had imagined their attack on leaders Mapfre, which was invisible to the competition and fans for 24 hours, a little differently. Second before putting on the camouflage cap, the team found itself in fourth place one day later after dropping off. The secret detour to the north did not pay off. However, the Dutch team did not fall back dramatically - together with Dongfeng Race Team, currently in second place, and Vestas 11th Hour Racing in third place, they are part of the trio chasing the leading Spaniards on "Mapfre". Xabi Fernandez' leading team had built up a lead of almost 27 nautical miles over Dongfeng by midday on Tuesday. Two and a half nautical miles behind Dongfeng, Vestas was piling on the pressure. A further six nautical miles behind them, Brunel had rejoined the race.
AkzoNobel is sailing in a league of its own in fifth place, 75 nautical miles behind "Mapfre". Skipper Simeon Tienpont's team was travelling at the slowest speed on Tuesday and will have to think of something to close the gap to the leading boats from a northerly position. Sailing furthest north, more than 100 nautical miles behind the red Spaniards Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag and Dee Caffari's team Turn the Tide on Plastic. The two tail-enders remain "connected" - even on day 17 they were separated by just four nautical miles.
The fleet still has around 1300 nautical miles to go before reaching the port of call in Cape Town. The pictures from on board the yachts show that the sailing is currently very wet and cold again. "This part of the leg feels like sitting in a chairlift in the pouring rain, where it's very cold and wet. But you can't get off. Luckily I love sailing!" said America's Cup and Brunel trimmer Kyle Langford. The fleet has now passed Tristan da Cunha, the most remote inhabited island in the world. The British colony lies around 1500 nautical miles from South Africa, around 2000 nautical miles from South America and is populated by just 262 inhabitants. It is also familiar to many Volvo Ocean Race fans because Ken Read's Puma Ocean Racing team had to make an unplanned stopover here during the eleventh edition of the race around the world after the mast broke. The sailors spent several days on the island as guests. Henry Bomby from the Turn the Tide on Plastic team reminded them of this very cheekily with a greeting from on board: "We've just passed Tristan da Cunha. Anyone interested in a round of golf? Ken Read?"
The fleet is expected to arrive in Cape Town this weekend. Nobody is looking forward to the arrival as much as Nico Lunven. Dee Caffari's navigator became a father during the leg and can hardly wait to see his little daughter for the first time, whom he has only known from photos and videos so far.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
