Winds over 20 knots, waves up to four metres and an ominous sounding ‘Black Tide’ current continue to make life challenging for the six crews on their way to Auckland, New Zealand.
"Going to the toilet for the first time in 54 hours in the bow of a Volvo Open 70 in 20 knots and dropping off 3 metre waves -- both terrifying and exhilarating" Hamish Hooper - MCM, CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand
In his latest report from the boat CAMPER Media Crew Member (MCM) Hamish Hooper gave a vivid illustration of how difficult even the most basic and mundane task can be in the tumultuous conditions.
“Going to the toilet for the first time in 54 hours in the bow of a Volvo Open 70 in 20 knots and dropping off 3 metre waves -- both terrifying and exhilarating at the prospect of how badly things could go,” Hooper wrote.
“We are sailing with a current of about two knots with us (which is good), but it’s going against the swell (not so good), which creates such confused seas.
“Every now and then a set of large steep waves with no backs to them come along and the helmsman have to spin the boat on the crest of the wave so as not to crash directly off the back of it.
"We are continuing to sail a course, which regrettably is taking us further away from Auckland. It is something that has to be done if we are to minimize our time in the painful light air forecast for the next wee while and to navigate our way as best we can across the three knot Kuroshio, or ‘Black Tide’ current which runs north past the Luzon Strait to the east of Taiwan and then north east to Japan -- again the wrong way to Auckland… torture!"
At 0700 UTC today CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand maintained their leading position as the fleet continue to track north east towards the southern tip of Taiwan where they hope to exit the South China Sea.
Groupama sailing team remain in second, almost 12 nautical miles behind CAMPER with Team Sanya moving up to third by way of their position as the most southerly boat.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing sit in fourth ahead of overall race leaders Team Telefónica in fifth and sixth placed PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG.
On PUMA MCM Amory Ross said that predictions of a longer leg than meant rationing of food and vital supplies had already begun.
“Our predicted 18 day leg has turned into a 20 day one, maybe even 21 or 22; it is hard to know as the models keep changing,” Ross wrote.
“We’ve started setting food aside and are mindful of our valuable resources like propane and toilet paper. Yesterday’s lunch was recycled, and with a little hot water became yesterday’s dinner, too.”
The leading boats are expected to reach the Strait of Luzon in the next 24 hours when they will try to make as much easterly progress as they can to set up for the optimum angle to the north east trade winds they will encounter when they finally turn south toward Auckland.