The stage decision is currently forecast for 13 December. That is when the first yacht is due to reach Abu Dhabi. It is currently more unlikely than ever that Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing will achieve a home victory on this leg. At the position report at 2.00 pm, the Emirates team was 42 nautical miles behind Team Brunel. The Dutch have also managed to pull eleven nautical miles clear of Dongfeng Race Team. The fact that the course to the Gulf of Oman is a lay line and the pursuers have no choice but to follow in the wake plays into the hands of Bouwe Bekking's team. Attacking courses would always result in considerable detours.
Naturally, this depresses the mood of the chasers. "When the trim and the sail are maximised to over 100 per cent and you still lose miles on every report, you get a bit irritated," writes reporter Matt Knighton.
If the current order remains the same until the finish, there would be an interesting constellation of three teams with four points each.
But the remaining 700 nautical miles for Brunel could be long. The Gulf of Oman and then the Strait of Hormuz are characterised by light, partly circulating winds. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is also counting on this. "It may not look like it at the moment, but 30 nautical miles can quickly turn into nothing," said skipper Ian Walker in last night's Boat Report. "There are still 900 nautical miles to sail, 450 of them on the cross in light winds where anything is possible."
Abu Dhabi's decision a few days ago not to follow the slightly more easterly course of the two chasers at the time ultimately paid off. However, the example of Mapfre shows how difficult the tactical requirements are. The Spaniards had gone furthest east and virtually starved to death there.
The chasing trio, now 300 to 400 nautical miles behind, seem to have no chance in the battle for the podium places.
Team Brunel on-board recordings, Bouwe Bekking speaks
Analysis of the current racing situation and outlook in the summary
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
