The Southern Ocean is simply not delivering the high speed sleigh rides which everyone associates with this desolate part of the world. Instead, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is floundering in a no wind zone, with just a hint that there is bad weather to come.

Brasil 1 (Torben Grael) and ABN AMRO TWO (Sebastien Josse) are positioning themselves to break out over the top of the ridge, while the other group of four will sail beneath it. The two boats in the north are barely making 8 knots, while the boats to the south are averaging 11.

The southerly boats are hoping for the wind to go into the east which will enable them to tack and then still cross the two boats in the north. Movistar (Bouwe Bekking) now in first position, was the first to make the break, tacking at 0940 GMT this morning. Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard) is just a mile behind movistar, but has yet to change course. Ericsson Racing Team is the slowest of this group and furthest to the north.

ABN AMRO ONE (Mike Sanderson), the most southerly of the fleet, 260 miles due south of the ice gate, said today, “One of the reasons that it is worthy hurrying to the gate, apart from the result, is the fact there is a chance that it will blow 50 knots there within 12 hours of us getting there… so the race is on, against the competitors and Mother Nature.”

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