No More Creeping

The slow progress is over for the fleet as the southerly breeze increased in strength and accelerated the yachts. illbruck has managed one again to move into second position behind SEB.

For now the southerly option of these two yachts has paid off. SEB managed to take up to 16 miles out of their pursuers, even though their navigator Marcel van Triest left the boat at Eclipse Island.

Marcel van Triest left the boat approximately 10 miles before Eclipse Island to return home due to a loss of a close family member. He is expected to return for the third leg of the race due to start on 26 December. The race rules allow for a crew- member to leave the boat in such circumstances.

News Corp, ASSA ABLOY and djuice have lost against SEB closer to land. Amer Sports Too rounded Eclipse Island this morning, but chose to stay close to the Australian shore and go directly to the east.

Amer Sports Too and djuice have been notified by the Race Committee that it intends to protest them for contravening the International Regulations For Preventing Collisions At Sea, Rule 10 (e) and 10 (b) respectively, with regard to the Traffic Separation Scheme in the approaches to Table Bay, Cape Town.

These protests relate to the tracks of the boats approximately one hour after start at Cape Town.

The protest hearings will be held when the boats have arrived in Sydney.

Rule 10 (b) states:

A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:

(i) proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of traffic flow for that lane;
(ii) so far as practicable keep clear of a traffic separation line or separation zone;
(iii) normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane, but when joining or leaving from either side shall do so at as small an angle to the general direction of traffic flow as practicable.

Rule 10 (e) states:

A vessel other than a crossing vessel or a vessel joining or leaving a lane shall not normally enter a separation zone or cross a separation line except:

(i) in cases of emergency to avoid immediate danger.
(ii) to engage in fishing within the separation zone.

Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 18, 0946 GMT:

PSYachtLatitude LongitudeDTFCMGSMGTFHRDTLDTL-C ETA PO

1TSEB37 38.48S121 28.04E0160710510.41840+004 DEC 0111
2ILBK37 33.20S121 13.32E0161911009.818012+404 DEC 0115
3NEWS36 35.80S121 27.12E0162209208.817015+1004 DEC 0112
4AART36 35.04S121 27.36E0162208909.117115+904 DEC 019
5DJCE36 34.88S120 54.44E0164809407.815641+1604 DEC 016
6AONE37 04.52S120 17.72E0166909809.416862+604 DEC 0110
7ATOO35 07.84S118 37.60E0177907508.9220172+905 DEC 013
8TYCO33 58.00S025 38.12E——–