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Read moreThree days into this intense Atlantic crossing and we expect good winds to benefit us and take us to our destiny to the top of the podium.
THE FLEET IS CLOSE
An extremely shifty wind constantly bearing north makes our bow change direction like in a rollercoaster.
Read moreThe water temperature rose from 11 to 19 surprising degrees, and it’s much nicer. The cold doesn’t hurt anymore, and it’s easier to go through the night.
DAY TWO
On our second day at sea conditions are mild with a good wind, crossed waves and a 2knot current in our favour.
Read more“MAPFRE’s goal is to sail really fast to the high pressure to connect with the European trade winds with a good leverage, expecting the bungee effect to benefit us”, says Jean Luc Nélias.
GOODBYE NEWPORT
Our goal is a podium finish. The boat and the guys did a great job at the start of the leg and that put us in a really good position during the first hours.
Read moreLike in all previous legs, the finish is going to be nail biting and I don’t think there will be more than 10 minutes difference between the first four boats on the finish line.
ONCE AGAIN, VOLVO “INSHORE” RACE
“We enjoyed another great sunset – it had been a while since the last time we saw one like that. Skies were clear and the sun was painting everything in pink and orange”
Read moreOur spirits are high and we’re looking forward to this leg’s closing day.
500 MILES TO NEWPORT
Stay Focus, Stay Fast “MAPFRE”.
Read moreJean Luc constantly updates the waypoints and the boat is in “full speed mode.” The noise of the sheets against the winches makes it almost impossible to sleep inside the boat.
WIND TACKLE
We are into our last sprint to Newport, which is less than 1,000 miles away. Yesterday the positions changed a bit and our close fight with Alvimedica put us where we are now.
Read moreWe are back in the pack and we want to win. Just 4 days left until Newport, and the tiniest mistake can cost you the leg. Focusing is key now.
ALL TOGETHER AGAIN
Last time this exact same crew sailed together, we made it first to New Zealand.
Read moreJean Luc says that we should “try to be first [he laughs], and that in the next 24 hours we’ll cross an area of squalls while sailing upwind. Then there’s a high pressure, which we’ll cross in a fast reach followed by a bit of downwind. The arrival will be in light winds and that might cause a compression – that’s interesting for us. Now we need to focus in generating a lateral split which helps us reach the front”.
A THOUGH NIGHT FOR “MAPFRE”
The seaweed is turning into a nightmare again and we breach once every 10 minutes. It’s really frustrating: you feel that the boat isn’t going fast, it’s not at 100%, and you stop focusing on trimming, worrying that the weed is causing us to sail one or two knots slower.
Read moreWe are fighting with seaweed, surfing waves and sailing with trade winds of 20-22 knots.
HAPPY LABOR DAY!
“Every time we stop, the others take more and more miles from us, and this is frustrating.”
Read moreYou have to be really careful with the seaweed for it tangles on the leeward rudder and makes you immediately lose control. We’ve had a couple of those already
VOLVO “CARIBBEAN” RACE
“We are fast and wet. Sometimes the conditions are magical; sometimes we’re covered with water and seaweed.”
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