The Ocean Race: Bow to bow on course for Cape Town - thriller finale ahead

Skipper Will Harris made a calm and optimistic impression when he answered journalists' questions at a small press conference from the sea on day 13 of the second leg. The team had "found a good rhythm in the Ocean Race and a great dynamic on board", assured Boris Herrmann's deputy. The 29-year-old Brit, who has been a member of Team Malizia since 2019, confidently commented on the events of the past few days, which allowed "Malizia - Seaexplorer" to catch up with the top boats.

"Nico had put us in a nice western position"

Commenting on his team's successful chase, Harris said: "We positioned ourselves very well. We often looked further back on the tracker than we actually were. Nico (Editor: Navigator Nico Lunven) had put us in a nice western position. With the future in our sights."

Harris continued: "When we passed the high, we were able to sail into more wind than the others. They had to jibe away from the finish line. When they did that, several hundred nautical miles behind turned into 30 for us. Then we got into the scenario with windy conditions and more waves. That's what suits our boat. That's how we managed to make up the last bit and take the lead."

"The condition of the foil has deteriorated slightly"

However, the foil damage is still causing Team Malizia to exercise caution and sail with the handbrake slightly on. Will Harris explains: "The condition has deteriorated slightly in the current waves. We had to pull the foil in a little and reduce the loads a little to get it to Cape Town in one piece. That costs us about five per cent of the possible speed, but we are still travelling fast. It's not ideal, but it's doable. If we can use it like this all the way to the finish, we'll be happy."

Will Harris described the rationing of provisions, which had already begun, as a "hot topic". He had emptied his last regular food bag on the day of the press conference. "From now on, there will be two rather than three meals a day for the next few days. Plus snacks and leftovers that we didn't really like. We have enough food for the last five days until Cape Town. It's not our favourite food, but it's acceptable. And an additional motivator to sail to Cape Town faster."

Will the battle in the South Atlantic be followed by the doldrums in the final?

The finish is close, but at the same time far away. All the teams have their sights set on the band of doldrums that stretches further and further in front of the Cape Town harbour. Navigator Nico Lunven said: "We have to keep a very close eye on it and see exactly where we cross it. It's still difficult to say at the moment. We have to observe and then decide."

When asked in retrospect whether he was sure of his position with the extremely westerly positioning of "Malizia - Seaexplorer" even at times when his team was in last place, more than 200 nautical miles behind, Nico Lunven said in the press conference at sea: "We made the decision in the Doldrums to be the most westerly boat. We saw it as a good option. Everyone on board understood that. It was important to pay attention not so much to the position, but to the weather ahead. I don't know if we were sure about this option at all times, but we all decided in favour of it."

Rosalin Kuiper: "The successful race to catch up has given us a lot of confidence"

The strategy was successful. "That gave us a lot of security," explained Malizia sailor Rosalin Kuiper. Like her crew mates, the Dutchwoman has slept very little over the past few days. "You can see the movements the boat makes," she said.

For the evening of 7 February, Team Malizia expects all the boats in front to dive deeper into the south. "After that we'll set course for Cape Town," said Will Harris, "all the boats will be sailing similar routes. It will be an interesting finish to say the least as we are sailing towards a light wind band. We can expect it to be very close at the end. It will be important to push the boat to the end. Be sure that we will fight until the end."

Click here for the tracker and the intermediate results.