Stealth Play In Final Stage

As Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) and Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED), the first two boats to commence their approach to the finish of leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race in Cochin, have dusted off their stealth cards and, for the first time on this leg, the race is in StealthPlay.

Ericsson 4 went into StealthPlay following the 1000 GMT position report this morning, so there is no data for her.  Telefónica Blue activated her stealth card immediately after the 1300 GMT report today and had 125 nm to run to the finish at 1300 GMT. Conditions overnight have continued to test the crews with no wind at times, followed quickly by gusts of over 25 knots.  Prior to going into stealth mode, Ericsson 4 had had seen the first effects of the looming light, variable winds off the coast of India and was beginning to lose miles to the rest of the fleet. However, their large cushion of 77 miles (as at 1000 GMT) should be of some comfort.  In the variable winds, their estimated time of arrival could slip back late into the night.

Telefónica Blue was becalmed in big seas for nearly two hours this morning - just the sort of conditions where damage is easily done.  However, suddenly the breeze picked up and the boat took off in 25 knots.    “I might be soaked to the skin from the rain and seaspray, but I don’t mind at all – the sea temperature is pushing 30 degrees and the prospect of a good curry and a cobra beer is only 24-hours away,” wrote navigator Simon Fisher.The Telefónica Blue team is threatening to make the final hours interesting by making a late charge at Ericsson 4.  But, they’re coming from a long way back, and rapidly running out of runway to make the pass.

Ken Read, skipper of PUMA, describes the final stages of this leg perfectly:“It’s like running a marathon.  You have four or five miles to go to the finish and you can see two runners in front of you… one about 150 metres ahead and the other about 400 metres.  The road to the finish is straight, with no corners or turns, and, right now, has a downhill gradient, so everyone is running smoothly and loose, with not many passing lanes “Right before you finish, there is a hill and there may be some opportunity for passing, but for now, you just have to try and run a little faster than both of them, without hitting the wall. And, at the same time, hope they run out of steam just a little bit sooner than you, or, have the misfortune to break a shoelace or experience some other minor mishap.”At 1300 GMT today, PUMA  was running smoothly, had overtaken Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) and was only three miles behind Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR).  Ericsson 3 (Anders Lewander/SWE) was approximately 40 miles ahead.  Languishing at the back of the fleet was Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) with 369 miles to run and the Russians sailing Kosatka, who were adrift by more than 625 nautical miles.