Andy McLean trimming onboard CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo / Hamish Cooper
The anxiety levels on Groupama went up a few notches today as they saw their commanding lead chopped by 50 miles in six hours, but the leading boat in the Volvo Ocean Race found some fresh breeze to maintain their strong position as they bear down on Auckland.
The French
boat found themselves in light winds and travelling at just 10 knots as their main competition were sailing at 17 knots and saw their lead sliced by 50 knots. They have found some fresh breeze as the rest of the fleet slow down, and still remain clear favourites to reach Auckland first.
This afternoon they held a 92-mile lead over Telefonica in second with Puma in third 111 miles back and Camper fourth 140 miles behind.
Groupama are expected into Auckland in the early hours of Sunday morning with Camper due in mid-Sunday morning.
"We've now found some wind, which is a much better sign for us," Groupama watch captain Thomas Coville said. "We are thinking about the victory a little bit ... but it's far from over. We will live in the moment, each hour and each watch, and we'll see at the end how that plays out. A race is only over once you have crossed the finish line."
