The depression affecting the front runners in the fleet have benefited the leader Apivia who now has a cushion of 280 miles on second placed Linked Out, an increase of almost 80 miles. Bureau Vallee lies in third. The leading group are all making just over 15 knots as the depression to their south begins to move off to the South East providing some relief from the strong winds and confused seas of the watery Himalayas experienced during the past couple of days. The trailing group, 3000 miles behind, are now into the Roaring Forties and making their way towards the Longitude of Cape Town. Pip Hare still in 20th place and Miranda Merron in 23rd.
Good to see that some of the boats are releasing scientific buoys to report on the oceans even as they focus on their racing. We did this from the Clipper Race fleet a year ago as aprt of a alrge international programme. These buoys bring benefits to all seafarers as they help to increase our understanding of our environment.
Here is more video of the Roaring Forties of the South Indian Ocean
Sodebo meantime, is still blasting eastwards but has lost 300 miles of her lead over the previous record with only 650 miles covered in the past 24 hours. She will pass north of the Kerguelen Islands in the next 24 hours. Will she get to the Longitude of Cape Leeuwin before Apivia?