© Photo Richard Konkolski
© Photo Richard Konkolski
Shortly after 1200 GMT Brad Van Liew was once again underway on Leg 4 with a new mast. The worst of the heavy weather was over and the next problem for most of the fleet could be light to very light conditions of an extended area of high-pressure spreading from 20S to 30S.
Giovanni Soldini © Photo Marek Slodownik 
In Class I, Giovanni Soldini and Marc Thiercelin were doing better than the rest of the fleet. Both were making over 8.5 knots. Both sailed close to shore over the weekend to benefit from the passing cold front. The cold front came up the Brazilian coast much faster than it did out to sea, so they caught the front first. Soldini had a slight edge because the wind could be just a little forward of him soon. As the wind shifts, he would have a better heading which would give him a very slight advantage over Thiercelin.
The boats in the worst shape would be No Barriers, Shuten-dohji II and Paladin II. They would have miserable sailing conditions for the next few days.
Mouligne's Cray Valley © Photo Billy Black
Jean-Pierre Mouligne acknowledged his mistake in his email: "First I started with a bad weather option by going too far East (so did Marc Thiercelin). When I realized my mistake, I sailed all night toward the West to get on the favorable side of the front. I maneuvered all night in winds that where going from 0 to 20 knots in seconds and constantly shifting 40 or 50 degrees. At dawn I was 55 miles behind Magellan. Twelve hours later it was my turn to battle the front and I made up a good part of my deficit."
"I also have a very serious mainsail problem. I am using the same main that I had in the first leg that arrived in Cape Town in a very bad shape. We sent it back to the US to have it reconditioned and reinforced but it already has started to split at the tack and below the third reef point. It is going to be a constant worry all the way to Charleston."Wind
Wind of Change Russia © Photo Billy Black 
Viktor Yazykov burned his Autohelm 4000 autopilot last night. He had to hand steer for the last 20 hours. Later, his boat could steer herself upwind, so Yazykov could get some rest. At least he still had some light wind, but all that was going to change soon. For now he was in third place 16 miles behind Mouligne only.
Neal Petersen was already becalmed off the Brazilian coast, 60 miles from Rio. "Not going anywhere and hoping wind will come. It has been 36 hours now drifting. Did 68 miles in 24 hours. 3 miles off the land, close to an oil rig. Strong current, which is pushing me ENE", he wrote.
© Photo Richard Konkolski
| Place | Skipper | Boat | Latitude | Longitude | Dist. to go | Speed | Dist. to first | Time |
| 1 | Soldini | Fila | 15 54S | 035 35W | 4143 | 8.1 | 0 | 2140 |
| 2 | Thiercelin | Somewhere | 17 09S | 035 49W | 4219 | 8.1 | 75.9 | 2140 |
| Place | Skipper | Boat | Latitude | Longitude | Dist. to go | Speed | Dist. to first | Time |
| 1 | Garside | Magellan Alpha | 17 46S | 036 49W | 4272 | 6.2 | 0 | 2144 |
| 2 | Mouligne | Cray Valley | 19 06S | 037 10W | 4353 | 5.8 | 81.6 | 2144 |
| 3 | Yazykov | Wind of Change | 18 59S | 038 15W | 4369 | 5.7 | 97.7 | 2144 |
| 4 | Petersen | No Barriers | 22 34S | 041 35W | 4649 | 4.5 | 377 | 2144 |
| 5 | Saito | Shuten-dohji II | 23 20S | 040 49W | 4667 | 4.4 | 395.1 | 2144 |
| 6 | Hunter | Paladin II | 24 50S | 040 44W | 4746 | 4 | 474.7 | 2144 |
| 7 | Van Liew | Balance Bar | 34 16S | 052 11W | 5544 | 0.5 | 1272 | 2144 |
Copyright © Richard Konkolski
Return back to Fourth Leg
Return back to Third Leg
Return back to Second Leg
Return back to First Leg
Return back to Sailing Round the World Races
Return back to Seven Oceans