CAMPER Split from Volvo Fleet

PHOTO: Hamish Hooper

CAMPER made a drastic split from the fleet on Wednesday in an attempt to jump back up the Leg 7 leaderboard, heading north in search of better breeze.

With Telefónica breathing down the neck of frontrunners Groupama following an exceptional 24 hours that saw them knock 25 nautical miles off their French rival’s advantage, CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand chose to cash in their position to the south of the fleet and dodge an area of light winds ahead that threatened to ensnare them.

The tactic, which relegates them to sixth in the rankings, could see them adopt a more traditional route high into the North Atlantic to avoid the Azores High, a massive high pressure system sitting in the middle of the ocean.

After overhauling PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, Iker Martínez’s Telefónica snuck up on Groupama, leaders of the 3,590-nm leg to Lisbon since its start on May 20, and at 1600 UTC just 3.2 nm split the two.

“We are doing pretty fast angles and speeds so right now it is all good,” said Martínez, who led his team to victory in the first three offshore legs. “We are sailing very well and we are comfortable in these conditions.”

The teams had hoped for a direct route to Lisbon, away from the more traditional route high into the North Atlantic to dodge the Azores High, a huge high pressure system that sits in the centre of the ocean.

But unstable weather conditions ahead could see the teams cut their losses and head north on a more customary route as far north as Canada.

Martínez said the decisions made in the next 36 hours could prove vital to long-term success as they approach light winds.

“Probably the most important decision will come in the next day and a half when we approach the light air and the high pressure,” he added. “That’s when all the boats will make their big moves. We will have to think about how to position for that and that is going to be the most interesting moment for sure."

Telefónica hold a seven-point lead over Groupama at the top of the overall standings, with CAMPER and PUMA also well within striking distance respectively 13 and 14 points off the pace with three offshore legs to complete.

After stealing third place from PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, winners of legs 5 and 6, spirits were high on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing as they fixed their sights on Telefónica.

“It has been a very good 36 hours for the team on Azzam,” skipper Ian Walker said. “Our move to the north paid good dividends and for a while we were in sight of Telefónica and took third place in the standings from PUMA.

“Sadly Telefónica have again demonstrated their pace to us by sailing away from four miles in front of us to 22 miles in the last 24 hours. Once again we will have to be patient and hope that an opening happens later in the leg for us to get back at them.

“It looks like a day or two of drag racing before the weather throws the next curve ball our way.”