On almost all the sequences on the raw feed we see sailors – including on Dongfeng – going about their business in the cauldron of the Southern Ocean silently.
You can tell just by the expressions on their faces that this tragedy has hit everyone hard and will overshadow not just the remainder of this leg but the rest of this race.
The sea conditions continue to be extremely challenging in the Southern Pacific Ocean as the fleet heads towards to Cape Horn which is now less than 600 miles from Dongfeng’s bow.
The last few hundred miles to that iconic headland will see building winds and seas with 30-40 knots forecast from the north-northwest as the sailors make their final approach.
With less than 2,500 to go to the finish at Itajai in Brazil, Team Brunel continues to lead with a 48-nautical mile advantage over Vestas 11th Hour Racing in second place.
Dongfeng Race Team is holding third place, 68 miles behind Brunel, with MAPFRE fourth, another 11 miles back. The current backmarkers are Team AkzoNobel (+102) and Turn the Tide on Plastic (+105).
The crew on Sun Hung Kai Scallywag led by David Witt is now making its way to a port on the Chilean coast with the assistance of Volvo Ocean Race control. They are currently about 850 miles to the north and west of the fleet.
Latest position report at 0700 UTC:
1. Team Brunel. DTF: 2,478.7nm
2. Vestas 11th Hour Racing. DTL: 48.6nm
3. Dongfeng Race Team. DTL: 68.0nm
4. MAPFRE. DTL: 79.0nm
5. Team AkzoNobel. DTL: 102.7nm
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic. DTL: 105.8nm
*Scallywag currently heading to the Chilean coast
