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The Ocean RaceClose to the ice edge - cold final phase on course for Cape Town

Tatjana Pokorny

 · 08.02.2023

11th Hour Racings "Mālama" powers on course for Cape Town
Photo: Amory Ross/11th Hour Racing/The Ocean Race
Across the south to the east: With around 1,200 nautical miles to Cape Town, the front runners on leg two of the Ocean Race are already sailing beyond 40 degrees south. In the cold final phase, they could almost reach the ice limit, which has been set at 45 degrees south in this region. On the 14th day at sea, Boris Herrmann's team Malizia battled with the US team 11th Hour Racing for the lead

The final showdown of the second Ocean Race leg is underway. At the front of the field on day 14, 11th Hour Racing's "Mālama", which is just ahead, and "Malizia - Seaexplorer" are fighting almost bow to bow for the lead. On the morning of 8 February, Team Malizia, skippered by Will Harris, had closed the gap to Charlie Enright's team to four nautical miles. The team had positioned "Malizia - Seaexplorer" slightly to the north of "Mālama". Paul Meilhat's "Biotherm" sailed furthest south behind the third-placed Swiss "Holcim - PRB", already beyond the 42nd parallel south.

Easy to see without the wind animation: The fleet is getting closer and closer to the ice edge. Almost bow to bow, Charlie Enright's Team 11th Hour Racing and Team Malizia are fighting for the lead. On the 14th day at sea, the rivals were separated by just four nautical milesPhoto: Screenshot/The Ocean RaceEasy to see without the wind animation: The fleet is getting closer and closer to the ice edge. Almost bow to bow, Charlie Enright's Team 11th Hour Racing and Team Malizia are fighting for the lead. On the 14th day at sea, the rivals were separated by just four nautical miles

The top boats continue to race towards Cape Town at speeds of around 22 knots. With 539.5 nautical miles over 24 hours, 11th Hour had recently completed the greatest distance. Team Malizia hardly lagged behind with 533 nautical miles. The Imoca 24-hour record for crews is 558 nautical miles. It was set by Jérémie Beyou's "Charal" in December 2022.

Can Guyot Environnement - Team Europe catch up again?

At the back of the fleet, the "Guyot" team led by Berlin skipper Robert Stanjek is struggling to catch up with the fleet, 477 nautical miles behind. Experts believe it is not entirely out of the question that the Guyot Environnement - Team Europe, which has fallen behind, will be able to catch up with the field again despite the large gap, because the boats in front will soon be sailing into lighter and lighter winds.

Click here for the Ocean Race Tracker and the intermediate results.

"The final spurt will be fierce!"

Christian Dumard, weather consultant for The Ocean Race, said: "The wind will drop. The fleet will not reach Cape Town at the current speeds (15 to 22 knots). The wind will decrease the closer the fleet gets to Cape Town." Justine Mettraux reported from on board the leaders: "The final sprint to Cape Town and South Africa is underway. It's going to be tough for us, epic for the crews on board the Imocas. In fact, the boats behind could catch up again due to pressure from the west. A weak wind zone under Table Mountain makes the end of leg two uncertain."

Team Holcim - PRB reported on the transition from warm to cold conditions here - great impressions from on board included!

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Tatjana Pokorny

Tatjana Pokorny

Sports reporter

Tatjana “tati” Pokorny is the author of nine books. As a reporter for Europe's leading sailing magazine YACHT, she also works as a correspondent for the German Press Agency (DPA), the Hamburger Abendblatt and other national and international media. In summer 2024, Tatjana will be reporting from Marseille on her ninth consecutive Olympic Games. Other core topics have been the America's Cup since 1992, the Ocean Race since 1993, the Vendée Globe and other national and international regattas and their protagonists. Favorite discipline: Portraits of and interviews with sailing personalities. When she started out in sports journalism, she was still intensively involved with basketball and other sports, but sailing quickly became her main focus. The reason? The declared optimist says: “There is no other sport like it, no other sport with such interesting and intelligent personalities, no other sport so diverse, no other sport so full of energy, strength and ideas. Sailing is like a constantly refreshing declaration of love for life."

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