Finally...the wind returns

MAPFRE up to second as the Volvo Ocean Race boats finally make progress towards Indonesia

The Volvo Ocean Race boats have been making slow progress east across the Bay of Bengal. On Wednesday late morning (UTC), they came to a grinding halt as the wind died and steadfastly refused to rise above 5 knots until Friday morning. As the bulk of the pack erred north, so perennial race leader Dongfeng Race Team followed, MAPFRE by staying slightly further south managed to pull into second, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing also overtaking Team Brunel to move up to third. Similarly backmarker Team SCA, by taking a route further north was able to reduce her deficit on the fleet from 33 miles down to 10.

Fortunately yesterday morning, the wind gradually began to fill in from the north across the fleet with Dongfeng in the east seeing the pressure build first but the wind also more headed, the wind veering into the northeast by the mid-afternoon for the race leader. The wind dropped again for a couple of hours very early this morning (UTC) but since then has properly filled in from the northeast and....finally....the boats are once again making double digit speeds which should get them into the Strait of Malacca.

Image below (click to enlarge) courtesy of Expedition and Predictwind

After the light wind reshuffle of the last three days, Dongfeng Race Team has done a sterling job maintaining her lead. At present she has 182 miles to go before she reaches the Pula U We turning mark, signalling her arrival into the Strait of Malacca. She's currently 56 miles ahead of second placed MAPFRE, with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing a further 10 miles astern and Team Brunel five miles behind Walker's team.

Unfortunately while the wind may have returned, it is also forecast to continue veering into the northeast meaning that the boats will find themselves upwind, with port tack marginally favoured. However after the tedious light conditions, the return of the wind, regardless of the direction will provide welcome some respite for the crews are already wondering whether they have brought enough food for this leg from hell. For conditions are looking particularly light around one third of the way down the Strait.