Light winds and Gulf Stream will carry Volvo Ocean Race fleet north

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam left Brazil for Newport, Rhode Island, on the United States east coast on Sunday with a plan to continue the tactics that have helped them build a seven-point lead in the Volvo Ocean Race.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Azzam and the rest of the Volvo Ocean Racing fleet should experience far friendlier weather systems on Leg 6 to Rhode Island on the US east coast than they've seen so far. Ian Roman / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
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Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Azzam left Brazil for Newport, Rhode Island, on the United States east coast on Sunday with a plan to continue the tactics that have helped them build a seven-point lead in the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR).

Skipper Ian Walker said Leg 6 of the round-the-world “Everest” of sailing is no time to begin experimenting, not when Azzam holds a seven-point lead.

“We have got to where we are in this race by sailing quickly and smartly and minimising the risks,” the Englishman said. “We aim to maintain that strategy and to continue to take the race one leg at a time.”

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Azzam were tied for the lead ahead of Leg 5, the challenging stage from Auckland through the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn, but they moved ahead of the fleet by finishing first after leading rival Dongfeng Race Team broke their mast near the Cape and retired from the stage.

Azzam sailor Adil Khalid, who returns to the boat after missing two legs through sickness, said the mood among the crew is upbeat but not overconfident.

“We all know there is still an enormous amount of racing to go in this race,” the Emirati said. “We are in a good position but in ocean racing there are lots of things that can go wrong.

“We will need to be at our very best on this next place to secure a podium place.”

Azzam have been on the podium in each of the five legs, with two firsts, two seconds and a third.

The six-boat fleet is expected to encounter light winds in the early stages of Leg 6, which takes them north-east in the opening stages before veering north-west to reach the US.

“In a way, it’s a reversal of the weather systems we encountered on the opening leg of the race,” said Simon Fisher, Azzam’s navigator.

“This time we skirt the light winds of the south Atlantic high-pressure system.

“We hook into the south-easterly trades to take us north, avoiding the light winds of the Azores high. Then, the Gulf Stream could be a big factor for the final section, along the US east coast.”

The fleet is expected to reach Newport in the first week of May.

Dongfeng rejoin the race with a replacement mast.

Team Vestas Wind, who grounded on Leg 2, are hoping to rejoin the race in Lisbon, the destination of Leg 7, and sail the final two legs, to Lorient, France, and Gothenburg, Sweden, where the race ends around June 25.

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