December 12, 2024
February 15, 2015. Leg 4 to Auckland onboard Team Brunel. Day 7. A huge wave crashes over the deck (Stefan Coppers / Team Brunel / Volvo Ocean Race)
February 15, 2015. Leg 4 to Auckland onboard Team Brunel. Day 7. A huge wave crashes over the deck (Stefan Coppers / Team Brunel / Volvo Ocean Race)

Leg 4
DTL

(NM)

GAIN/LOSS

(NM)

DTF

(NM)

Speed

(kt)

TBRU
TBRU003188.314
ADOR
ADOR64.9 133253.116
MAPF
MAPF74.4 113262.716
DFRT
DFRT79.9 113268.216
ALVI
ALVI82 123270.316
SCA1
SCA1107.8 93296.114
VEST
VEST Did Not Start

–  Communications antennae malfunction hampers Spanish boat

– Team Brunel cashing in on bold decision to sail north

 

SANYA, CHINA - FEBRUARY 13:  In this handout image provided by the Volvo Ocean Race onboard MAPFRE, Xabi Fernandez holding the new base for the outrigger during Leg 4 from Sanya to Auckland on February 08, 2015 in Sanya, China. The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 is the 12th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on October 04, 2014, the route, spanning some 39,379 nautical miles, visits 11 ports in eleven countries (Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China, New Zealand, Brazil, United States, Portugal, France, The Netherlands and Sweden) over nine months. The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier ocean yacht race for professional racing crews. (Photo by Francisco Vignale/MAPFRE/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)
SANYA, CHINA – FEBRUARY 13: In this handout image provided by the Volvo Ocean Race onboard MAPFRE, Xabi Fernandez holding the new base for the outrigger during Leg 4 from Sanya to Auckland on February 08, 2015 in Sanya, China. The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 is the 12th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on October 04, 2014, the route, spanning some 39,379 nautical miles, visits 11 ports in eleven countries (Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China, New Zealand, Brazil, United States, Portugal, France, The Netherlands and Sweden) over nine months. The Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s premier ocean yacht race for professional racing crews. (Photo by Francisco Vignale/MAPFRE/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)

ALICANTE, Spain, February 16 – Spanish boat MAPFRE (Xabi Fernández/ESP) were ‘sailing blind’ in Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Monday after a problem with communications antennae on board prevented them from receiving key weather and other data.

Race Control was alerted to the problem over the weekend and has since worked with their suppliers and the boat to find a solution.

Gonzalo Infante, who runs the Race’s high-tech communications control room with the six-strong fleet, said on Monday it was not clear exactly what had caused the issue, which involves two antennae not functioning. Communications with the other five boats are working as normal.

“We can still send and receive plain text but cannot send detailed weather data. This has impacted on their ability to make strategic decisions – they are sailing blind,” he said.

Infante added that the Race was working with its suppliers of communications hardware and software on the boat to find a diagnosis and fix.

In a message from the boat, MAPFRE’s Onboard Reporter, Francisco Vignale (ARG), wrote: “We only have email which works. Jean Luc (Nélias-FRA), our navigator, is very limited in his work and can not forecast or work out future routes.”

Additionally, the crew is unable to send out images or videos, which have kept their many fans up to date with progress so far in the race.

Vignale added: “The main thing is that we’d like to say that we are all well, despite not being able to talk with our families. Each one of us wants to send a big ‘hi’ to our nearest and dearest.

“We hope to solve this problem as quickly as possible – there’s still a long way to go in this leg.”

Despite their challenges, MAPFRE were very much in the thick of the battle to finish first in Auckland after the 5,264-nautical mile (nm) stage from Sanya.

At 1240 UTC on Monday, they were in third place some 74.4nm behind Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED), who were cashing in on their decision to sail north of the rest of the fleet early in the leg. The stronger winds and better angles towards Auckland that decision gave them, has propelled the Dutch boat 64.9nm clear of the main pack led by Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR).

Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA) are tight behind fourth-placed Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA), the overall race leaders, with Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) still sailing north of the rest of the fleet and biding their time before making their own decision to bear south.

 

February 15, 2015. Leg 4 to Auckland onboard Team Alvimedica. Day 7. Choppy and rough trade-wind sailing in the Philippine Sea for Ryan Houston (R, at helm) and Nick Dana (L, trimming the main). (Photo ©Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica / Volvo Ocean Race)
February 15, 2015. Leg 4 to Auckland onboard Team Alvimedica. Day 7. Choppy and rough trade-wind sailing in the Philippine Sea for Ryan Houston (R, at helm) and Nick Dana (L, trimming the main). (Photo ©Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica / Volvo Ocean Race)
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