The gap at the front has narrowed. Charlie Dalin’s Apivia is now 327 miles behind Maître CoQ after posting a 421 mile day's run in the last 24 hours. Maître CoQ only managed 202 miles and is currently reporting west-south-westerly winds of 9 knots whereas Apivia has west-north-westerlies at 15 knots. Maître CoQ is inshore of the following boats who have seen the high pressure system slowing the leader and it appears their winds are pushing them eastward which may benefit them for a while.
The whole leading group will face northerly winds as they get close to Cabo Frio where the normal weather circulation system is operating. It’s then a question of pushing north to take advantage of the wind slowly swinging round to the east for the reach up to the Equator. But first they have to get through the jumble of weather in front of them.
Pip Hare’s group have been slowed but a new system is on its way which will bring winds in excess of 30 knots to propel them towards Cape Horn later to-day. She is still 17th after losing time to replace her damaged rudder yesterday and Charal is breathing down her neck 50 miles astern. Miranda Merron is in 23rd place.