First Signs of a Division

For the first time on this leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, the fleet has started to separate as each navigator and tactician looks to maximise their potential.

They all have different ideas on how best to head for the Norwegian Coast, whilst searching for as many “overtaking” areas as possible. This is reflected in the leader board over the last few hours, we no longer have a drag race with everyone heading on the exact same course as we have had for the first couple of days this leg. Now, on one side of the fleet is News Corp making a heading of 043 degrees, a more easterly route than the rest of the fleet, whilst on the western side of the leading pack SEB is heading much further north, and holding off putting in so much in the easterly direction at present.

In the middle of this divide Assa Abloy has managed to come through the middle to take the lead, whilst Tyco and illbruck are currently covering each other for third place, less than one mile apart.

Despite the fact that this is a short leg, the leading group only have 375 miles to run, all the crews will be looking forward to arriving in Gothenburg, and will probably be even more exhausted than if they had sailed through the Southern Ocean again. If most racing sailors are tired after a hard day of racing, these crews will be thoroughly drained by the time they reach port having achieved several hard days of match racing, but there is still all to play for, and no one will be slowing up on the pace until the finish gun has sounded.

Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 4, 0407 GMT