Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.
The Doldurms have had an effect on the race. However, while Class I has grown apart just the opposite has occurred in Class II.
Fleet Round Up:
Fila's lead has ballooned to 318 miles. Fila has a 4 knot speed advantage so should gain more. However, Giovanni Soldini is not over confident about his lead saying, "It's not just the wind and the waves that can finish you off ? there are countless variables."
Somewhere is Class I's doldrums victim. Marc Thiercelin is quite despondent: "RAIN RAIN RAIN AND NO WIND, AND I SEE LEG 4 GO ON AND ME STAYING [HERE]. IS A BAD BAD TIME FOR ME -- THE RACE IS FINISH... NO WIND NO WIND."
Magellan Alpha leads Class II by 66 miles. Although Mike Garside has a mortal lock on overall 2nd place in Class II, he still wants a Leg 4 victory: "I desperately want to win this leg. I've wanted to win them all, but if I can take this one, I will join Mike Golding as the only Brit ever to have won a leg of this race." Further Garside comments: "I held the lead for 11 days from Cape Town to Auckland and really thought that leg was going to be mine. I've held it for 14 days this time, but there's still a long way to go. If I'm becalmed for a day, or even half a day, everything could change." Magellan currently shows a .2 knot speed advantage.
Cray Valley is 2nd. J.P. Moulgine has halved the deficit in the last several days.
Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change. Wind of Change is 311 miles back. Wind of Change's 8.7 knots is Class II's fastest speed.
www.no-barriers.com has retaken 4th place and is 958 miles back.
Next is Shuten Dojhi II. Shuten lies 993 miles from 1st place.
Paladin 2 is 1076 miles back. Neil Hunter's comment on the sailing conditions: "Still quite a few rain clouds about and the breeze is up and down like a bride's nightie. Generally quite warm though and very pleasant."
Balance Bar is back racing and trails the lead boats by 1776 miles.
What does it all mean ?
Can Garside hold on? That is the race's central question. With continued light and variable conditions for Cray Valley and Magellan the chances for change are there.