PUMA leads as fleet focuses on Fernando
Unlike previous Volvo Ocean Races, the rounding of the island of Fernando de Noronha this time does not score any race points. However, it is still a mark of the course and the order of rounding will be a significant psychological boost for the front runners, PUMA’s Mar Mostro with American Ken Read in charge, and his immediate and constant opponent, Telefónica skippered by Spanish superstar sailor, Iker Martínez.
Tonight at 1900, PUMA’s Mar Mostro continues her dominance of the fleet and is making steady progress at 13 knots towards the Brazilian archipelago 129 nautical miles (nm) ahead. Both PUMA’s Mar Mostro and Telefónica who is 14 nm behind the leader and has been shadowing Mar Mostro for most of this leg, will round under the cover of darkness.
Telefónica and CAMPER (Chris Nicholson/AUS) have made negligible losses tonight, but fourth-placed Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas/FRA) dropped nine miles on the leader over the course of the last three hours and has an average boat speed of 10.6 knots. She is now 359 nm behind PUMA and the three boats in front of her are able to sail at least a knot faster. It’s going to be a long night for the French team.
