Buffer effect
With Simon stuck in his blue bubble at 88mn/day this morning, the whole fleet is gaining ground on him, in particular Abhilash (+66 mn) and Kirsten (+78 mn) who reduced the gap to 640 miles! She continues south below 46°S for another slingshot she masters to perfection. Not sure that the weather reports Simon is now receiving are cheering him up!
Conditions are still rough along the No-Go Zone. Michael has another tough 30 hours to get out, with a strong wind acceleration during the night. Jeremy is entering his third day of heavy weather with a very active front expected tomorrow afternoon, Ian is in less wind, but a big residual sea: “OK, I get it Roaring 40s, it never stops, when the wind drops the waves roar at you!”
At the end of the fleet, everyone is enjoying themselves! Guy made landfall after 101 days at sea on the evening of the 75th anniversary of the Cape Town Yacht Club, with a number of Clipper Race friends may have a difficult morning! Elliott, who is venturing south at 41°S is keeping up the pace, he has gained 30 miles on Ian and shortened his Hobart ETA to February 1st 2023!
