As the fleet passed the half way point in leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race, complex weather continues to challenge the fleet. However, Chris Bedford, race meteorologist, says, that given the expected conditions, the leaders should be nearing the second scoring gate of Eclipse Island off Australia, by Sunday.

As the fleet peels off towards the higher latitudes once more, concerns about ice remain on everyone’s minds. Updated ice information was given to the fleet yesterday, just before they passed the final ice gate and started to head further south.

It is likely that the fleet will want to remain in the stronger winds as long as possible incurring some extra distance. The turn northeast towards Eclipse Island will be critical and the navigators will need to identify the optimum time to make the turn. A series of high pressure centres with very light and shifty winds will move towards the Australian Bight and a ridge of high pressure with accompanying light winds will move between the fleet and the scoring gate.

The positions tonight remain unchanged. Speeds stay high at the top of the fleet, but for ING Real Estate Brunel (Grant Wharington), the struggle goes on. Brasil 1 (Torben Grael), sailing her own race, is easing back into racing mode and jogging along nicely at 15.6 knots.

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