A large spectator fleet were treated to some close and aggressive racing on Sunday afternoon in Waitemate Harbour for the Leg 7 start from Auckland to Itajai. Whilst MAPFRE set the pace from the offset, Dongfeng Race Team and the rest of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet refused to give the Spanish boat any breathing space as they charged around the race course in 20 knots of wind.
Dongfeng were first to pick up on a bad gybe by MAPFRE just after the top mark, with the Chinese boat showing their rivals exactly how it was done by executing a slick manoeuvre to shorten the gap.
Team Brunel and Turn the Tide on Plastic followed seconds behind, with a series of close crosses between the four frontrunners making for some spectacular racing. The fleet were quick to complete the loop, with Dongfeng Race Team leaving Waitemate Harbour and heading out into the Hauraki Gulf just 14 seconds behind MAPFRE.
The sailors will already be experiencing uncomfortable boat-slamming conditions on board, with a forecast of 30-knots of wind and upwind sailing as the fleet head for the East Cape of New Zealand before turning south to head for Cape Horn.
Find out what the sailors had to say just before jumping on board for the most challenging and longest leg of the race:
Charles Caudrelier:
“It is very special. We are going to go in the Southern Ocean, past Cape Horn. We are very late in the season so the weather forecast is not very good to go in Cape Horn.”
“It is very special because it is the only part of the world where you go with no possible assistance and only the other sailors around you. You have to think about safety first and it is what makes the start a bit special. You have the stress of the performance along with the stress of the safety.”
“We know it is going to be tough. Water under 5 degrees, air under 5 degrees and maybe some snow. There is 10 really hard days coming which of course makes the start a bit different than the other one.”
Chen Jinhao (Horace):
“I am feeling very excited at the moment. I remember 3 years ago when we were here and I missed the leg because of injury. We are ready and I am ready and want to fight for the victory.”
Jeremie Beyou:
“Things are getting serious now because the Southern Ocean and Cape Horn is somewhere that you are not used to going. It is all about having a good leg, trying to catch MAPFRE. You have to be really switched on, do clever things and try to enjoy it too even if it is cold, wet and windy so try to enjoy being in the middle of nowhere with the wonderful crew.”
