For much of the time, as they have moved from one platform to another assessing the merits of each option, they have not even been sailing in the direction of South Africa, meaning that the “distance to go” figure on their on-board computers is still reading around 2,400 nautical miles.
The key issue – as they have reached the layline for Cape Town – has been trying to position the boat to take advantage of a weather front heading east across the northern fringes of the Southern Ocean which will produce strong winds and fast boatspeeds. At the same time the ever-present danger of lighter winds has influenced just how far south and west the navigators have chosen to go.
After leading the fleet for two weeks, Charles Caudrelier and his team on Dongfeng have now fallen out of the top-three and have incurred heavy losses to crews – Team Brunel, the new leaders, Vestas 11th Hour Racing and MAPFRE – that were west of them and sailing into stronger pressure.
The timing of Dongfeng’s gybes – as navigator Pascal Bidegorry tried to cover the fleet while at the same time select his best meteorological option - has proved critical as the red and white boat has searched for stronger breeze and fend off rivals who have been trying to find a way past them for days.
This morning she is listed in last place on the ranking, travelling at 20 knots of boatspeed in a fresh northerly breeze, but in reality she is in fourth position which will have come a big disappointment to the team. Now they are in a fight for a podium position with any of the three boats ahead of them capable of winning the leg.
This has felt like the decisive phase in this long stage from Lisbon but we know one thing for sure – that Charles and his team will not give up until the finish line under Table Mountain arrives and they will be looking for every opportunity to re-gain the places lost.
