This was not how skipper Ian Walker and his Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team had imagined this seventh leg. They wanted to be among the top three overall leaders, just one place away from second-placed Dongfeng, in order to virtually seal the deal.
And now this: penultimate place. Only Team SCA still behind. The whole thing is on a direct half-wind approach to Lisbon, with only a few tactical options left - it's all about speed.
Two days ago, Abu Dhabi missed the boat in a light wind area and has been trying to avoid the worst ever since. That would be a last-place finish, while Dongfeng is in contention to win the stage and make up as many points as possible.
Abu Dhabi still leads by six points, a safe cushion that could now dwindle. At the position report in the morning, Dongfeng was only 5.7 nautical miles behind the leading team Brunel, Mapfre was less than a nautical mile ahead. Behind them was a large gap, with Alvimedica a good 27 nautical miles behind, eight nautical miles ahead of Abu Dhabi.
There were still just under 400 nautical miles to go to Lisbon and we should arrive tomorrow morning. For Abu Dhabi, there is only Alvimedica left to catch, but even that is rather unlikely given the remaining distance. As things stand at the moment, Dongfeng would make up two points and be only four behind. And if skipper Charles Caudrelier were to pull off a masterstroke and win this leg, the two would be separated by just two points - and everything would be wide open again.
