It simply couldn’t get any more frustrating than it already is for the boats in second to fifth position racing in the closing stages of the Volvo Ocean Race leg four from Wellington to Rio de Janeiro. Once again, the wind Gods are on the side of ABN AMRO ONE (Mike Sanderson) but rest of the fleet is dealing with a very volatile weather situation as a front passes over them, causing headwinds, periods of total calm, alternating with squalls which bring 50 degree wind changes and 10 knots difference in wind speed.

Shortly after 1600 GMT, second placed Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard) came to a grinding halt. Brasil 1 (Torben Grael) and ABN AMRO TWO (Sebastien Josse) made big gains and hooked into the new wind, while the Pirates were left wallowing. Brasil 1 took over second position and shortly thereafter, The Black Pearl was hit with a squall.

“It was all hands for about 30 minutes as we had to shift from light air mode, not to mention that we had to get a spinnaker up and the jib down and bagged,” explains Pirate Paul. “After we got under control, we looked around and saw a boat about six miles behind. We are not sure who it is of the three that were behind. We have since put about four miles on them and can no longer see them. We are currently still being dictated to by this massive cloud line, although it is only blowing 13 knots now. It’s going to be a long night.”

Brasil 1 is just a mile ahead of the Pirates tonight and ABN AMRO TWO is only nine miles behind them and the speeds are up throughout the fleet. Perhaps it will not be such a long night after all?

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