Volvo Ocean Race

Groupama Media Crew Member (MCM) Yann Riou says the French team have had a difficult 24 hours as they watched the pack, led by their rivals for the overall lead reduce their Leg 7 advantage to nothing.

In his latest report from the boat, Riou said there had been many long hours of strategizing around the Groupama navigation station as Franck Cammas’ team tried to make sense of the complex weather scenario:

Yesterday wasn’t much fun, with our competitors (who we could not see) steadily catching up thanks to stronger breeze at the back of the fleet.

Tonight we got a little tonic with 20 knots downwind but in terms of distance to the finish, Telefonica is right back with us. Even though it came as no surprise, it was difficult to to receive regular positions carrying bad news.

Right now there is some intense thinking going on around the chart table, but there is no obvious route for the time being. All the expected weather systems are not in their normal place and the traditional strategies do not apply.

Consequently the fleet has stuck to the direct route, as we all wait for opportunities to come up. There is an option of a very northerly route, which flirts with the ice gates. This cold option is always possible, but not certain.

This part of the Atlantic is under the influence of the warmth of the Gulf Stream current, while to the west, next to the ice gates and Newfoundland 280 miles more to the North, there is the cold Labrador Current.

So, will we make a small tour of these cold waters in the next few days? Answer coming shortly.

Yann