Storm Conditions Take Their Toll

Day seven of leg four has seen the Volvo Ocean Race bring out the pure seamanship of the fleet rather than the hard racing ability of the seven crews.

As at other critical tactical moments in the race, today has been about making choices, based on the weather forecast, competitive considerations and confidence in one’s crew and equipment when faced with such horrendous conditions. Data off the boats indicates top wind speeds near 50 knots and maximum wave heights of 14 metres.

The main problem has come from the steep seas caused by the wind blowing against the prevailing current, resulting in a sharp, steep sea state. 

Over the past 12-hours, the fleet has been short-tacking up the coast of the Philippine Island Luzon, seeking whatever shelter it could find near the shore.

“We have been sheltering behind Luzon Island for most of the day after trying to go upwind in 45+ knots, “ wrote Guy Salter, MCM onboard Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA).  “All I can say is that it was far from pleasant.  We ended up sailing the last few hours under storm jib only, slowly creeping our way closer to the top of the Philippines before waiting for an ease in pressure to attempt the crossing over to Taiwan and through some very tidal seas, which could be boat-wreckers to say the least," he said.

His words seem prophetic, as some of those ahead who ventured out into the Luzon Strait, found it didn’t take long for the challenging conditions to exact a toll.

At 0200 GMT, PUMA (Ken Read/USA) turned south while in the lead and headed downwind.  They have now anchored in a bay.  Ken Read said in an interview at 1000 GMT, “We’re busted and we are in a harbour.  It’s pretty disappointing.  Quite a devastating day for us.  We have broken our boom in half.  At the time, there was 50 knots of breeze and 20-foot seas, with waves breaking over the top of the boat.  We haven’t suspended racing, we just don’t happen to be sailing right now.”

At 0530 GMT, the new leaders, Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP), who had been sailing conservatively under storm sails pulled off the racecourse to investigate a crack in the hull. 

By 1000 GMT, the team was back on the racecourse, heading across the Luzon Strait behind sistership Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED), the new leader, however the crew became increasingly concerned by damage to the hull and at 1130 GMT they turned back to the coast.  They will now take the necessary time to assess the damage.  They have not suspended racing and the crew is in good shape. 

Meanwhile, at 0715 GMT, Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bérmudez/ESP) turned back from the Luzon Strait for the calmer waters of the coast to repair a damaged steering wheel, ripped mainsail and a damaged mast track. The team suspended racing at 1010 GMT, (under race rules for a minimum of 12 hours), and is currently anchored in harbour with Green Dragon, in a bay just north of Vigan.

At 0830 GMT Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR), already nursing a damaged rig, followed Delta Lloyd’s lead and headed inshore.  The boat has suffered damage to the forward ring frame and is heading for a safe haven, just 10nm north of PUMA.

“Our intention is to make some repairs and get underway,” Ian Walker said moments ago in a radio interview.   The forward ring frame has disintegrated, so the crew has to try to reinforce it and re-bond it to the hull.  “We have some materials and some know-how and we will use a bit of ingenuity,” Walker said. 

For those teams making repairs, timing is critical.  According to Walker, there is a three or four-day window to get to Qingdao before the weather turns bad there, so the teams will have to leave their safe havens when it is probably still rough, in order to get to China before the weather closes in. 

Green Dragon has not retired from the leg.  The team will try to make a good repair and carry on as best they can. 

Telefónica Blue is now tackling the Luzon Strait.  Bekking says is will be a case of ‘survival’ now, for the next 36 hours or so.  “We are going to take it easy, there is too much at stake,” he said.

Leg Four Day 7: 1300 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions