Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.
The Doldrums have begun to stamp the race. In one Class the lead boat is affected and in the other it's 2nd place that is suffering from the variables.
Fleet Round Up:
Fila's lead has ballooned to 169 miles. Fila is across the equator, presently at 2 degrees north latitude.
Somewhere is Class I's doldrums victim. Marc Thiercelin is a 9 minutes north latitude sailing at only 4.3 knots. He has changed course to due west likely in an attempt to find wind.
Magellan Alpha leads Class II by 145 miles. Magellan has crossed the equator and is at 1 degree north latitude. However, her speed is a fleet low 1.9 knots.
Cray Valley is 2nd. J.P. Moulgine has gained 40+ miles in the last 6 hours. He is still south of the equator charging at 9.5 knots. However, he likely will eventually be slowed by the Doldrums also. The shrinking lead should help J.P.'s outlook. J.P. summed up his leg 4 difficulties this way: "Today I will have been at sea for 2 weeks, I think that I can safely say that this last week has been the most difficult and frustrating of the entire voyage."
Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change. Wind of Change is 390 miles back. Wind of Change's 7.7 knots is Class II's 2nd fastest speed.
www.no-barriers.com has retaken 4th place and is 964 miles back.
Next is Shuten Dojhi II. Shuten lies 1004 miles from 1st place.
Paladin 2 is 1054 miles back.
Balance Bar is back racing and trails the lead boats by 1820. miles. Brad Van Liew is still in a high pressure system. At last report Balance Bar was moving at only 1.8 knots.
What does it all mean ?
The Doldrums are influencing the race. Whether it will result in any position changes is still to be determined.