At 10:00 ZULU the fleet was all on port tack, sailing in a north-easterly True Wind Direction. It’s stayed up around the mid- to high-teens in velocity (True Wind Speed or TWS) for the past 24 hours, and kept everyone rolling towards the finish.
Ericsson 4 has complete control of the fleet, with both a mileage advantage on the leaderboard, and the tactical advantage of being positioned to windward. But the battle for the remaining podium places is as hot as ever, as the chasing pack struggle for an edge. The two Telefonica boats have got the most to do, to dig themselves out of the south, with Ericsson 3 and PUMA to the north of them. Green Dragon is right on the leader’s line, and shares her windward advantage, along with Team Russia and the injured Delta Lloyd.
It’s been the damage Delta Lloyd’s keel ram that has dominated the news for the last 24 hours. They are limping after the fleet, but appear to have the situation stabilised and safe. They haven’t been the only ones with problems, although Telefonica Black’s halyard issue just took the edge off their speed, rather than threatening their arrival in Singapore.
Here is a clip of life aboard for a Bowman during leg 3.