Into the Doldrums

At the front of the Barcelona World Race fleet, Virbac Paprec 3 slows to a crawl

Image above courtesy of Expedition Navigation Systems and PredictWind. If you can't see the whole of the table below (this depends which browser you use), scroll down to the bottom of the page.

As the numbers above are indicating, Barcelona World Race leaders, Virbac Paprec 3 are now into Doldrums, despite still only being at 5°S. They have averaged just 2.5 knots over the last hour. Ouch! Satellite wind radar images are not at present covering their exact location but to their east the Doldrums are spanning all of 0-5°S, with the northeasterly trades kicking in at around 1°N while to their northwest there are squalls and nasty stuff up to around 5°N.

Inevitably this will lead to second placed Mapfre being able to close in, but whether the Spanish 49er Olympic medallists on board will fair any better once they reach ITCZ remains to be seen. Their track north is at present to the west of the race leaders, so perhaps they have different tactics and perhaps they may have more luck. The Doldrums crossing represents one of the last potential reshuffles in this long round the world race and the outcome won't be evident until Friday.

Once through into the north/northeasterlies Trades, there doesn't appear to be anything untoward occurring, looking forward until the weekend.

Behind, the trio of Renault, Neutrogena and Estrella Damm, fighting for third, are approaching the latitude of Rio, enjoying the fast reaching condition on starboard gybe thanks to the depression to their northeast. This depression is forecast to slink off to the east but this group will then be faced with a NW-SE orientated front to cross that is forecast put them into lighter NNWerlies once they are through it. Due to the orientation of the front, the duo trailing Renault will enjoy the present fast conditions for longer and should be able to close in. However all of this group look likely to face a tricky windless area at around 15°S before they make it through to the trades.

Further back up the race track, Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella on GAES are currently doing well, however an area of high pressure to their west is forecast to slide east and unless they hurry up, they are likely to be caught in its clutches.

Mirabaud seem to have their bow turned towards Punta Ala (the Argentinian version, rather than the Italian one) and are still 400 miles away at the latest sched.

Hugo Boss appear to have rejoined the race at around 1430 yesterday afternoon after their pitstop to repair mast track and sails on the south side of the Falklands.