CAPE TOWN // Another dance between seven boats and more than 6,000 nautical miles of ocean began on Wednesday with the start of the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race in Cape Town.
Between December 9 and 19, the boats will begin to arrive in Abu Dhabi. The favourite for this leg is Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam, who won the first leg and the in-port race in Cape Town this week.
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Team Brunel led the fleet out of the inshore skirmishes at Table Bay, about 45 minutes after the official start of the race. Azzam were content with a cautious start, leaving the bay in last place, but comfortable in the knowledge there was a long way to go.
Before the start, the crews were in good spirits as they mingled with family and friends and bid their farewells.
Their recovery period and ensuing preparations have gone well over the past few weeks, but predictions about the leg were being made with great reluctance.
Uncertain weather heading out from Cape Town is merely one reason, although the boats were sent on their way under brilliant blue skies and with winds between 20 to 30 knots.
During the first evening, winds are expected to rise and then drop so it will be a tricky opening to negotiate, while there is the possibility of tropical cyclones and monsoon weather later on the leg.
Much of the route has not been seen by the 59 sailors as this is only the second time the race has included this leg as the threat of piracy caused it to be heavily disrupted in the previous race.
Sailing through another area of doldrums and the Strait of Hormuz will present specific but unexpected challenges, while three exclusion zones will complicate strategy for the crews.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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