Neptune, what a leg finish you’re preparing for us! This is as tight as ever. Excitement and racing do not go along easily but it’s difficult not to let passion drive you mad in such circumstances.
We are less than two miles away from Abu Dhabi, Dongfeng to leeward, and 500 to go till the finish. The pack behind is putting pressure on us, and the two boats ahead are sailing really well. MAPFRE is to windward of the fleet, pushing as hard as never before. So far the leg has been tough but just imagine being only two miles behind the second-placed boat, 18 days into the leg. You really need to keep cool and choose the right path.
The remaining 48 hours are going to be fun, and on top of that the approach to Auckland is going to be really tactical. A wind shadow could spoil the entire leg.
The wind today has been really inconsistent due to the clouds. According to Jean-Luc, there’s a low pressure to the east, which is pushing all these clouds and waves. Rain, light wind, gusts over 20 knots, lumpy seas. In one of those gusts we saw Abu Dhabi and Dongfeng in the AIS again. Sailing to their windward we managed to cut down distances and we’re all aligned now, heading towards New Zealand. The wind is still shifting constantly.
Like full gallop if we were on horseback, hitting the gas if we were in a car, full throttle if we were on a motor boat.
#vamosMAPFRE!
Fran Vignale