Gales, calms, equipment failures and now a major South Atlantic storm reshape the race as the fleet races towards the Southern Ocean challenge.
A severe South Atlantic storm system is developing in the path of the Golden Globe Race fleet, with the first major impacts expected from Sunday, 25 October.
Race leader Damien Guillou, currently leading the fleet by around 450 nautical miles, had been tracking towards the storm’s most extreme sector and has been advised to work northeast and climb north of 38°S, where the impact should be significantly reduced.
Even so, Damien may still experience winds around 50 knots with stronger gusts, although the sea state could be less severe than farther south.
Damien’s advantage over the main chasing fleet had fallen from approximately 750 nautical miles and is now around 450 nautical miles. The South Atlantic High forced him and Pat Lawless farther south into easterly headwinds, while their pursuers turned the corner around Trindade sooner than expected.
Pat Lawless: Pat’s Solent stay failure at deck level left his main rig secure, but presented a serious challenge to recover and lash down the damaged gear. Rudder-head trouble compounded the problem: two riveted fastenings failed in the fitting connecting the tiller to the rudder head, and he lacked suitable replacement bolts for a secure repair.
Now heading north, he may make for the Cape Verde Islands or the Canary Islands.
Ertan Beskardes aboard MISS BEAGLE moves into 2nd, with Andrea Lodolo aboard BIBI pressing from 3rd.