SAILING:THE OLDEST boat competing in the Volvo Ocean Race moved into the overall lead of leg two from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi yesterday following a daring move away from the main fleet in the Southern Ocean.
After almost 1,800 miles of racing, skipper of Team Sanya Mike Sanderson faces the prospect of either a huge lead or a massive deficit as a result of the move that saw the Chinese-flagged entry sail north towards Madagascar in search of favourable winds.
However, Sanderson’s team may get more than they bargained for if they mistime their approach to a tropical cyclone forming off the East African coast.
Further south, the fleet continues its eastwards passage before a turn to the north and the mystery destination where boats will be loaded onto a container vessel for transport through the pirate-infested Indian Ocean.
Franck Cammas’ French entry Groupama 4 with Ireland’s Damian Foxall sailing as watch-leader was faring well relative to the other more northerly boats and was listed as second for the leg behind Team Sanya. About 2,000 miles remain in this leg and the sprint northwards is likely to resolve the actual and theoretical leg standings in the coming days.
