Wednesday (10 May) dawned with a beautiful morning in Newport, Rhode Island. It’s a cool, crisp, spring day with bright sunshine and clear blue skies.
Unfortunately for the IMOCA trio racing towards The Ocean Race’s Leg 4 finish line off Fort Adams State Park, the high-pressure system clearing the sky today also brings light winds.
11th Hour Racing Team and Team Malizia have therefore been engaged in a low speed, tactical race over the final 80 miles of this leg, weaving through exclusion zones and searching for the first sign of a new breeze.
It’s an agonising way to finish the leg, but on Malizia at least, spirits remain high.
“We have one final fight with 11th Hour Racing Team, one final push, and I think we can be very happy with how we’ve sailed so far,” said Malizia skipper Will Harris. “We just have to enjoy these last few hours at sea and we can look forward to a nice welcome in Newport. No matter how it goes, we can be happy with how we sailed and knowing we’ve given it everything we’ve got so far.”
As they get closer to shore and the sea breeze builds, speeds will pick up and both leading boats are expected to finish later in the afternoon local time (1900 to 1930 UTC) in Newport.
In the latest update from the leading boat at 1730 UTC, navigator Simon Fisher on 11th Hour Racing Team said: “We are reaching in, the breeze is filling in as forecast and things are looking good for an afternoon finish in Newport. We wanted to be between Malizia and the new breeze… and generally it’s been alright. We still have some miles on them and so far so good.”
The third boat racing — Biotherm — is about 160 miles behind and projected to finish about six hours behind the leaders.
“It’s not over yet, we’re still pushing into the finish,” said Alan Roberts on Biotherm. “Some snakes and ladders ahead…”
Elsewhere, following their dismasting in stormy conditions yesterday, the sailors on board GUYOT environnement - Team Europe have secured the boat and mounted a jury rig and are now able to make way across the wind. More information is expected from the team shortly.
Leg Four Rankings at 1800 UTC, 10 May
- 11th Hour Racing Team, distance to finish, 13.2 miles
- Team Malizia, distance to lead, 10.3 miles
- Biotherm, distance to lead, 167.1 miles
- GUYOT enironnement - Team Europe, racing suspended
Find the latest fleet positions on the race tracker at theoceanrace.com.
