Yachting: Doldrums an opportunity for Camper

Camper are looking to close the gap on their two rivals. Photo / Hamish Hooper-CAMPER ETNZ

Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand are eying an upcoming opportunity to finally close the gap on their two rivals in the Volvo Ocean Race as the fleet approaches the windless Doldrums zone.

Camper is third behind Puma and Telefonica, with Groupama in fourth place much further east.

Roughly five degrees of latitude either side of the equator, the heating effect of the sun, combined with the convergence of the northern and southern hemisphere trade winds, creates an area of predominantly light winds, punctuated by intense thunderstorms and sudden wind squalls. Camper navigator Will Oxley is viewing the Doldrums as an opportunity to re-engage with the fleet.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE TRACKER

"History tells us that west is best for a passage of the Doldrums however once through the Doldrums a boat in the west has to sail finer, tighter angles to Fernando and the boats slightly to their east are able to put the bow down and go faster.

"It's pretty clear to those experienced watchers of races down the Atlantic that our passage so far has been anything but orthodox.

"The good news is that we should now be able to point the bow towards Fernando [de Noronha, off the coast of Brazil], whereas normally at this stage we would be worrying about how to get west and also avoid the wind shadows of the Cape Verde Islands.

"This is what Groupama are surely doing. They're in a difficult position at the moment. The low-pressure system to the north has completely disrupted the trade winds and the Cape Verde Islands are in their way.

"I think it's likely that Groupama will attempt to cross the ITCZ [inter-tropical convergence zone] much further to the east than the other three boats, this is a higher risk option. But as always-high risk options can pay big dividends. It could also see big losses. Only time will tell.

"As we sail south, a new Azores high pressure system [when this is in position the trade winds re-establish] is moving in behind us. This means it's likely that there will be some compression of the fleet as we move south as the boats further south will have less wind.

"PUMA and Telefonica both have a very healthy lead over us at present.

"Our sole aim is to reduce that deficit as much as possible by Fernando to give us a chance of overtaking them in the south Atlantic.

"There is still a long way to go in this leg.''