Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker is feeling a little “stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea” as his competitors in the west tip that his team will be the biggest losers in the east-west split.
“The opportunity to gain something back on the guys to the east is worth a shot, Groupama and PUMA are probably pretty safe, Abu Dhabi a little less so though, time will tell" - Team Sanya skipper Mike Sanderson
Since the fleet split in half and Team Telefónica, CAMPER and Team Sanya committed to a western course through the Solomon Islands archipelago, Walker has been fearful of losing his top three position.
Sanya skipper Mike Sanderson reckons that of the teams in the east it is Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing who is most vulnerable, with Groupama sailing team and PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG regarded as safe.
Sanderson said his team would have to be careful while dodging through the chain of islands, but the risk could be worth it if it meant gaining positions.
“The opportunity to gain something back on the guys to the east is worth a shot, Groupama and PUMA are probably pretty safe, Abu Dhabi a little less so though, time will tell,’’ he said.
CAMPER navigator Will Oxley also sees Abu Dhabi as easy pickings, especially since an unexpected wind shift on Saturday morning could mean they are on a tough course to lay the south eastern tip of the Solomon Islands.
“PUMA is just laying at the moment, Groupama is laying OK, but Abu Dhabi’s not laying, and if you don’t lay you could have a 150 nautical mile stretch upwind to get around the corner,” he said.
“If that is the case with Abu Dhabi and we don’t slow up then it is a significant advantage.”
Walker admits that he feels open to attack, with a real chance of dropping from third to last.
It was that fear that led Walker and navigator Jules Salter to considered taking the western route. But, eventually the pair agreed that they had a greater chance of protecting their ground by taking an eastern route.
“On board Abu Dhabi we were caught a bit between the devil and the deep blue sea,’’ he said.
“To turn down west would have meant giving up Telefónica and CAMPER, but it would have consolidated over Sanya.
“To carry on east means a chance of third place, unless we can catch Groupama or PUMA, but also a big risk of ending up last. This would be infuriating after sailing such a solid leg to date.
“For PUMA and Groupama there was no decision to be made as they are committed to the east. So, who will win east or west?
“Having been in third place we have the most to lose, but to go west would have been to give up two positions anyway.”
