The Volvo Ocean Race has entered a historic phase - albeit in a negative sense. Over the next few hours, the symbols of the yachts will gradually be removed from the display in the race tracker. They will appear in an extra window that no longer has any reference to the surroundings, i.e. it works like a magnifying glass. Although you can see how the yachts are positioned in relation to each other and what the distances are, you can no longer see their positions in the world or their exact course. Weather data is also no longer available. As a result, a good part of the excitement is lost, tactics and opportunities can hardly be followed.
However, reports, photos and videos from on board are still available.
This stealth mode, the disappearance from context, is a tribute to the pirate danger in the Indian Ocean. The pirates could otherwise, like every viewer at home, follow exactly on the plotter where a team is to be intercepted.
The protective measures even go so far as to load the yachts onto a freighter in an unspecified harbour and take them to the Persian Gulf ( we reported ).
So from now on, it's goodbye - at the latest for the Coldplay concert on New Year's Eve in Abu Dhabi.
By the way: Team Sanya will probably be on the screen for a little longer, as the boat is still being repaired in the harbour of Tolanaro on Madagascar.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
