Leg 2, Day 16: Dongfeng thunders across the south Atlantic fighting for the podium

After all the days of manoeuvres off the Brazilian coast, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is now hammering across the south Atlantic on a direct route to Cape Town with the “miles to go” figure tumbling as the boats hit consistent speeds of over 20 knots.

Dongfeng Race Team is still battling to recover the ground lost in the last phase of the positioning for this wild ride towards the southern tip of Africa and the crew is now fighting to get ahead of Vestas 11th Hour Racing, skippered by Charlie Enright.

The red and white Chinese boat skippered by Charles Caudrelier is currently around 10 miles northwest of Enright’s team and seven miles behind them so there is all to play for over the final few days of the leg.

At the front of the fleet, the Spanish team on MAPFRE led by Xabi Fernandez has stretched its lead and is currently 35 miles ahead of Team Brunel in second place with Vestas another six miles back in third.

The summer sailing conditions of the tropics are now long gone with windy and rough seas under grey skies in charge with less than 2,000 miles to sail. The crews are back in foul weather gear and trying to keep warm and dry off-watch.

For Caudrelier and navigator Pascal Bidegorry, the focus is on trying to make the most of what it left of a stage that they led for so long. Will there be a chance to catch-up as the fleet closes on Cape Town?