For Charlie Enright's 11th Hour Racing team, there is nothing less at stake than the longed-for victory on course for home port. The US team, which was co-favourite before the start of the Ocean Race, is fighting for its first stage victory in this 14th round-the-world race. The 38-year-old Rhode Island-born sailing professional has often emphasised in recent days how important success on this leg would be to him. When asked specifically how high he would rank his desire to win on a scale of zero to one hundred, Enright simply replied: "A thousand!"
Charlie Enright's longing for Ocean Race success
One can understand his desire, as the American team had long been considered the top favourite for this Ocean Race edition. It had the longest preparation time and more crew training together than all the other Imoca teams put together. Unlike his navigator Simon "Sifi" Fisher, Charlie Enright has never won the Ocean Race before. Enright sailed to fifth place with both Team Alvimedica in 2014/2015 and Team Vestas 11th Hour Racing in 2017/2018.
This time he wants more, but his team has so far had to bow to Kevin Escoffier's Team Holcim-PRB and Team Malizia more often than they had hoped. Cracks in the rudders and foils, a broken mainsail and other technical challenges made life brutally difficult for 11th Hour Racing, especially on the queen's stage. Before the end of the fourth leg, 11th Hour Racing was behind Team Holcim - who had to retire due to a broken mast. PRB (19 points) and Team Malizia (14 points) are in third place with 13 points in the small but excellent field of this Ocean Race edition.
Who will win the race to Newport: "Mālama" vs. "Malizia - Seaexplorer"
Now, after Kevin Escoffier's Swiss team Holcim - PRB Team Malizia has been knocked out of the stage, it is a thrilling duel with the Americans for the fourth stage win in the Ocean Race. Malizia's stage skipper Will Harris and his crew are not letting up. It remains to be seen to what extent the respective "chocolate sides" of the two Imocas will work in ocean match racing.
Half-wind courses are "Mālama". Especially in patchy or light winds below and around 14 knots, the Americans benefit from their longer waterline in the Ocean Race. Upwind, it's a different ball game: as soon as there are waves, Will Harris and his Malizians could benefit. Boris Herrmann, who is taking a break on this leg and will rejoin his team in Newport next week, once explained that this is already the case when the waves reach table height.
Huge clouds and thunderstorms challenge the crews
The fleet is still expected to arrive in Newport on 10 May. However, the route there is full of challenges, even in the last few days. "The wind is supposed to be from the south-southwest, but we're sailing with wind from the northeast - so it's 180 degrees different," said Team Malizia's new recruit Chris Pratt on the morning of 6 May. "We're dealing with huge clouds and thunderstorms. It was supposed to be a cool night in the bunk at 20 knots downwind. Instead it was a tough night under the clouds with 15 knots on the other side!"
Team Biotherm had previously reported similar problems. "It was very difficult. There was no wind, and what little there was was spinning in all directions," explained Ocean Race newcomer Alan Roberts in the 24-hour review. "It was really tough. We sailed into a cloud bank with very little wind from random directions. We did a few 360° turns and tried to keep the boat moving. That was pretty emotional! But we finally got wind again. And now we're heading in the right direction."
"Biotherm" skipper Paul Meilhat: "We have to keep fighting now!"
"We were unlucky. It wasn't the model," commented skipper Paul Meilhat. He continued: "We probably lost 150 miles to the leaders and maybe another 100 miles to Guyot. It's hard to accept, but it's done and now we have to keep fighting. It's not over yet. There are still a lot of tricks up our sleeve."
Guyot Environnement - Team Europe had been able to catch up with Biotherm on Friday, fell behind again on Saturday and then caught up again. In the early evening, "Guyot" was 235 nautical miles behind the leaders. The short-term forecasts indicate that the leading boats will move into north-westerly winds, but will have to deal with strong gusts and thunderstorms again later on Saturday.
It remains exciting on course for Newport. Team Malizia's navigator Nico "The Brain" Lunven said: "We just have to try and sail in the right direction with the wind we have. Even if it goes against the forecast." The smart Frenchman also has a sense of humour.
"Pretty strange!" This is how Team Malizia's new recruit Christopher Pratt describes the current situation at sea - watch the clip:
"Why we love what we do!" - Skipper Charlie Enright in an interview with Ocean Race presenter Niall Myant-Best:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
