On day six of leg one Team New Zealand boat Camper is holding
their position with the other westerly boats and are waiting
to pick up the expected strong north westerly front in the
Volvo Ocean Race.
Camper remains in fourth place but overnight gained on the
two other westerly boats Puma and Telefonica to be 62 miles
behind them.
At the front of the fleet Groupama have maintained their
separation from the other boats and currently have a 180
mile-plus lead over Telefonica, Puma and Camper.
Skipper Chris Nicholson said despite Groupama's strong lead
he believed staying west would pay off.
"The latest weather models are pretty clear that that there
is strong north west front due through in about 24 hours. If
we can pick that up early then we should be in good shape to
capitalise on it and improve our performance.
"Although Groupama are in good pressure at the moment the
next 36 hours will be telling for them as they try to get
west and into the new breeze. On their current track it looks
as though they system they are in at the moment may dry up in
the not-to-distant future.
"It remains to be seen who will be proven right but
regardless we are now committed to this westerly track and
what it will deliver.''
At noon today, Camper was south of Madeira Island averaging
14 knots in a 12 knot north/north westerly.
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