Tonight, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet prepares to enter some of the most hazardous waters in the world, a place where the Southern Ocean is at its shallowest and the winds funnel at 40 knots. This is the exit of the Southern Ocean and the experience can be dramatic or benign, but whatever weather the wind gods decide to throw at the fleet this time, leaving the desolate wastes of Southern Ocean via Cape Horn to port, means many things to many people.

“Turning the corner at Cape Horn is a big psychological change. In some ways you look forward to it because a lot of the difficult conditions are behind you, I know for me, it’s also quite a sentimental moment, because the round the world race is really about sailing in the Southern Ocean and when you turn that corner, you turn your back on some of the best sailing that this available on the planet and it is the best sailing that I have ever done. And you never know if you will ever come back again. This could quite possibly be my last time. That is a huge icon of the race.” Paul Cayard, skipper Pirates of the Caribbean.

“Of all the landmarks, you would have to say that Cape Horn is THE one. It marks leaving the southern ocean and that is something people remember. Neal McDonald, skipper Ericsson Racing Team.

“It’s the Everest of sailing for a crew, like a graduation, another notch of experience to add to your belt and things that you have lived.” Guillermo Altadill (Ericsson Racing Team), rounding Cape Horn for his sixth time.

As the teams approach the massive Cape, 314 nautical miles ahead of leader ABN AMRO ONE (Mike Sanderson), a huge storm is brewing behind them. The front runners should reach the Cape ahead of it, but the back markers are anxious: “We think we will get around the Cape before it hits us, but if it does, then we really have to be on our guard, just for our own safety apart from the race. We’re taking the middle road right now and firming up our final approach plan at some time later today,” said Neal McDonald.

Movistar (Bouwe Bekking) and Captain Paul Cayard and his pirates on The Black Pearl are fighting cat and dog for the points on offer at the scoring gate. Neither team is giving an inch, which is, in turn putting pressure on Mike Sanderson who would rather sail ABN AMRO ONE a little more conservatively, maintain his lead and arrive in Rio de Janeiro in one piece. He’s having to sail faster and carry more sail than he would like in order to protect his 40 mile lead from the two thrusters who hunt him down with more wind behind them. Movistar leads Pirates of the Caribbean by just half a mile, squeezing past her in the last six hours. All but Ericsson Racing Team, who has lost another four miles, have made small gains on ABN AMRO ONE tonight.

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