Narrow lead for Spirit of Sark

Global Challenge boats now round Cape Horn

All the Global Challenge yachts have now passed Cape Horn, so will be fully-fledged ‘Cape Horners’ when they arrive in Wellington. There’s no going back now, as the yachts are well and truly in the clutch of the Southern Ocean.

A low-pressure system has passed below the fleet today so they are currently in a patch of lighter airs from the WNW between two systems. The next low-pressure system will cause the wind to strengthen and veer to the northwest over the next 24-hours, benefiting the more northerly yachts first once again, including closely matched first and second placed Spirit of Sark and BG Spirit, who will pick up the stronger winds before those to the south.

"Its fairly moderate today actually, the wind has come round to the north, so we're reaching along,” explained David Melville aboard BP Explorer.

"It's been quite a harsh environment and a bit of a surprise for everybody and it's really taken a lot out of the crew down here - there's been endless sail changes on the foredeck in very cold conditions and we've got a number of people sick as I imagine most boats have. They've really had to dig deep and I've got a lot of admiration for the way they have just got on with it and keep getting the sails up and down because there's no days off on this boat.

"In terms of the positions on this leg, I think in some ways I think it reflects the willingness of the crew to just keep getting up and hauling sails up and down."

Team Stelmar has now charged back into the fleet and has shaken off last place to Pindar. Under race rules there is no possibility of redress for time or distance lost so the crew will have to climb back up with sheer determination alone.

“It is amazing to have a rival yacht ( BG Spirit) cross within five boat lengths in gale force 8 on the wind in very rough seas after 1700 miles of racing," said Spirit of Sark's Duggie Gillespie. "My only thought was to be pleased we had the 5 boat length advantage - we all seem to be fighting for each and every boat length and it will be like this the whole way to Wellington.”

“It was a real struggle to get off the shelf and every tack we got knocked and hence we find ourselves back here," Paul Kelly on Team Save the Children. "Plan is to maximise the reaching conditions and stay close to the line and not try anything clever! Positioned between the two packs so option remain open. So will keep a close eye on the southerly yachts as the last sched showed they have grouped up. Stay close to the line and go fast. Wind has eased so all the sails are up but see this changing rather soon. Interesting to see only two boats staying north, my money is on this paying off. Any further south could see us sail into the centre of the low. Staying north guarantees some breeze looking at the chart.”

Dee Caffari on Imagine It. Done reported: “Hanging in on a starboard tack is beginning to shred my nerves a little. The crew are working really hard and working up and down the sail wardrobe every few hours. The breeze has been anything but steady making the decision making process for the next sail change a lottery, a little early and we are slow, a little late and we risk sails and bodies doing the next manoeuvre.

“The wind files have been accurate for a general plan but their timing sucks. The breeze will lift us at some point today and we just sit and wait knowing that this won’t last for long. Then we shall be forced further south and we need to wait. The forecast for after the low going beneath us tonight is for a high to push us from behind. Downwind in the Southern Ocean may happen!!!!!!”

Fleet positions:
DTF
Spirit of Sark 4,243
BG SPIRIT 4,249
BP Explorer 4,270
VAIO 4,288
Me to You 4,292
Barclays Adventurer 4,296
Imagine It. Done 4,298
Samsung 4,300
SAIC La Jolla 4,304
Team Save the Children 4,360
Team Stelmar 4,383
Pindar 4,422