Synchronized gybing then a slow passage to India

4:18 AM Sun 23 Nov 2008 GMT

'An Indian Ocean Rainbow from Telefonica Black, on leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Cape Town, South Africa to Cochin, India' Mikel Pasabant/Telefonica Black/Volvo Ocean Race ? Click Here to view large photo

Having engaged in some synchronized gybing overnight, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet have settled into a tactical formation and have their bows pointing north as the trade winds loom.

Running downwind in light airs, three squadrons have formed across the north-south divide.

By the 16:00 GMT Position Report, Ericsson 4 was neck-and-neck with E3. Anders Lewander's men, further north, trail their stablemates by just one mile.

Another tight tussle ensues for third place between Green Dragon, at a Distance to Leader (DTL) of +29, Telefonica Blue (+34) and PUMA (+42).

Locking horns at the tail are Team Russia (+88), Telefonica Black (+92) and Delta Lloyd (+109).

The winds have dropped to 10-12 knots, the seas have flattened out, the air temperature is rising and the mood on board is one of contentment as the crews find time for running repairs and domestic duties. Their mothers would be proud.

'All around the boat you can find bits of clothing hung up as everyone desperately tries to get stuff dried out before we begin reaching once more on starboard,' says Simon Fisher, navigator of Telefonica Blue.

'It's amazing how fast the change was from full wet weather gear, fleeces and boots to shorts,' says Ericsson 3's Media Crew Member, Gustav Morin.

'We are now sailing in 10 knots of wind and almost flat water and it's a golden opportunity to fix everything that needs to be fixed. Everyone is moving around like hard working ants.'

'We have a high-pitched wail coming from the rudders'

On Ericsson 4, there is an unwelcome guest in the shape of a 'high-pitched wail', according to their MCM Guy Salter. 'Dave (Endean) threw our serving spoon overboard last night - although he can't really be blamed as it was I who didn't take it out of the pot before asking him to empty the left over food in the ocean.

'We have a constant high pitched wail coming from the rudders and it is slowly driving us all insane. So in some way losing the spoon was a good move as it is one less weapon to be used onboard when one of us finally does snap due to the aural torture.'

Finally, from Morin again, a unique take on life's little luxuries. 'Everything is relative, like Einstein said. Luxury for example,' he argued. 'For some people luxury means driving around in a Bentley, living in a castle and having a bunch of butlers serving meals and drinks every time you ask for it. On a Volvo Open 70 you appreciate another kind of luxury.

'As soon as we started sailing north, from the Southern Ocean, the weather started changing. In 24 hours the temperature has changed from having to wear full wet weather gear to be able to jump on deck barefoot and in T-shirt, without freezing your butt off in seconds.

'The wind has decreased some and the sea state is very pleasant. Instead of rocking, shaking and getting airborne downwind, we are heeling 15 degrees on a steady reach. That is luxury.'

The fleet now have the trade winds in their sights where they will be setting up for a good angle to the Doldrums. Beyond that potential car park, the navigators are anticipating a good westerly breeze, but are expecting it to drop again before they reach Cochin.

Looks like a slow final passage to India.

by Cameron Kelleher

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Synchronized gybing then a slow passage to India

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