Please select your home edition
Edition
Boatseekr_LeaderBoard_122 - TOP

Volvo OR: Scallywag's speed wobbles en route to Hong Kong

by Peter Rusch 16 Jan 2018 22:54 NZDT 16 January 2018
Leg 4, Melbourne to Hong Kong, day 15 John Fisher on the mainsheet on board Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag © Konrad Frost / Volvo Ocean Race

The leader sailed under a cloud line and lost a few miles overnight, but are back up to speed now.

Leg 4 leaders, SHK/Scallywag, had some nervous moments leading up to Tuesday's 0700 UTC position report.

Sailing under a cloud line, the team suffered a few speed wobbles and lost about seven miles on most of the fleet on the latest position report.

But the obstacle appears to be behind them now, with the boat back up to full speed.

And with less than 1,400 nautical miles to run to the finish line, and a 70 mile lead over second placed Vestas 11th Hour Racing, skipper David Witt and his team have their eyes firmly on the prize.

"The nervous excitement of being in the lead means our world even more so revolves around the position reports," writes Scallywag navigator Libby Greenhalgh.

The islets and atolls of Micronesia are also in the rear-view mirror, and that means the fleet is back to straight-line sailing... a speed contest.

"With the fleet forced to pick sides on a number of islands the choice was between gybing and sailing lower and slower versus keeping fast but heading more to the north," writes Vestas 11th Hour Racing navigator Simon Fisher.

"For our sake I am pleased to say the former whilst potentially a short-term loss has paid out over the long term and we are once again enjoying being bow forward on both Dongfeng and Akzo as we settle into the drag race towards the Philippines."

Related Articles

Volvo OR: MAPFRE pushing hard to catch the leaders
Spectacular drone video of overall race leader MAPFRE sailing at over 20kts Spectacular drone video of overall race leader MAPFRE sailing at over 20kts on the final section of Leg 4 of the 2017 Posted on 15 Jan 2018
Volvo OR: Scallywag extends despite MOB
At 0700 UTC on Sunday morning, skipper David Witt's team was leading by about 20 miles The Scallywag crew is sailing like a team motivated to be first home into Hong Kong, charging west at the head of the fleet. Posted on 14 Jan 2018
Volvo OR: Hong Kong entry on target
Hong Kong entry SHK Scallywag is still favoured to win Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race At the latest race sked (2036UTC on Jan 13, 2018) the Hong Kong entry SHK Scallywag is still favoured to win Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race and be first into her home port. Posted on 13 Jan 2018
Volvo OR: Scallywag's bold move continues to pay
Volvo OR: Doldrums are a thing of the past as the fleet speeds towards Hong Kong The doldrums are a thing of the past as the fleet starts speeding towards Hong Kong, powered by the northeast trade winds... Posted on 13 Jan 2018
Volvo OR: Scallywag goes around the outside
As of 0700UTC on January 9 the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is parked up - with 400nm to the Trades As of 0700UTC on January 9 the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is parked up - with 400nm to sail to reach the NE tradewinds and catch the elevator for the finish of Leg 4 in Hong Kong. Posted on 9 Jan 2018
Volvo OR fleet tiptoes through the Doldrums
A big change has taken place in the Volvo Ocean Race as the fleet clears the Solomon Islands A big change has taken place in the Volvo Ocean Race as the fleet rounds the Solomon Islands, and the two waypoints, and strike out for the next waypoint or maybe the finish line in Hong Kong. Posted on 8 Jan 2018
Volvo OR - Video of the racers at pace on Leg 4
Videos from above as the racers hurtle towards the Solomons, plus some nav station insights. The use of drone cameras for both still and video photography on the Volvo Ocean racers has added a new dimension to the coverage while the boats are far from land. Posted on 7 Jan 2018
Volvo Ocean Race: Views from the drone cameras
One of the innovations of the current Volvo Ocean Race has been the use of drones that are capable o One of the innovations of the current Volvo Ocean Race has been the use of drones that are capable of keeping pace with the speeding competitors. Posted on 6 Jan 2018
Volvo OR: Back on the ocean again Images + Video
Images and video a few hours after the start of Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet Images a few hours after the start of Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, after they exit Port Phillip and are in the Southern Ocean once again. Images and video describe the action. Posted on 2 Jan 2018
Volvo Ocean Race: Skippers dockside in Melbourne
Volvo Ocean Race: Dockside in Melbourne with Tucker Thompson and the Volvo OR skippers Join Tucker Thompson as he chats with the Volvo Ocean Race skippers ahead of the start of Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race in Melbourne Posted on 2 Jan 2018
Boatseekr_LeaderBoard_58 - BOTTOMC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_SY BOTTOM