Melbourne Hong Kong Challenges Volvo Ocean

Image Volvo Ocean Race 2018 Leg 4 Melbourne Hong Kong

After weeks of long battling the Doldrums on their route from Melbourne, Australia to Hong Kong, China the Volvo Ocean Riders are well into the slingshot trade winds. Some Volvo Ocean fans did not expect that much adrenaline pumping on Leg 4, after all, Leg 3 and Leg 5 are known for their extreme Southern Ocean ways, but this year`s route from Melbourne to Hong Kong had it all. Dead wind zones, strategy and maneuvers, Micronesia tricky waters, “man-overboard” rescue situations and fast moving pacing fleets shifting and rattling positions.

Stopped cold by the equatorial dead wind zones, positions shaked while the overall strategy was to reach the Northern system to take some air in...the days turned into weeks. Desperation and slow movement set in the Doldrums. Favorites leading the overall ranking positions, MAPFRE, Dongfeng and others were not that favored.   

Now, with just days to spot the Hong Kong coast Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race -and its extra point for the grab is on its Road End Way.

On January 16 Volvo Ocean Race reported that Team Scallywag “grabbed an opportunity with both hands as they exited the Doldrums on Leg 4”.

The Team breaking into Volvo for the first time and going straight to their port Home Hong Kong was the leader of the strategy which all teams pushed for. “The way from Melbourne to Hong Kong are barriered by the Doldrums -a dead wind zone which crosses the equatorial areas around the Globe,” Volvo Ocean Race weather experts explained.

The shortest route from Melbourne to Hong Kong by sail is to go West with a Northbound but the shortest way is not the fastest. Fastest way up is to go North and reach the Trade Winds which give steady 20 to more knott wind rides and a smooth ride West. All teams pushed up North but it was Scallyway the first team to break off the Doldrums dead wind zones and attach to the pushing Hong Kong trade winds riding West.

Volvo Ocean Race called the Doldrums “unpredictable”. They lie at the centre of these ‘mirrored’ climate zones, in a band roughly along the Equator.

“It’s an area of flaky light winds, unpredictable thunderstorms and squalls. On either side of the Doldrums lie the trade winds –regular, moderate to strong winds blowing from the north-east in the northern hemisphere and the south-east in the southern hemisphere, and converging on the doldrums,” Volvo Ocean Race experts explained the challenges.

Soon after the entire fleet escaped the Doldrums speeds were driving them closer to a Friday 19 of January Hong Kong finish off.

“It's a speed contest now as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet enjoys stable, trade-wind conditions on the race to Hong Kong…” media reported.

Scallywag pushed on first followed by Vestas which managed to keep the distance. 11th Hour Racing drove in third cutting off Team AkzoNobel by over 77 miles.

Still leading the Scallywag crew remained humble. “A couple of days ago we’d lost a fair few miles, and so we looked at some of the weather files and tried to do something slightly different,” Scallywag crewman John Fisher explained.

“Over the last day or so it’s started to pay off. It’s more positive not being at the back but you know it can all change. Hong Kong is our hometown so for us to get a good result would be everything.”

Team MAPFRE overall position leader of the 2018 Volvo Ocean Race hooked on to a steady 5th position during most of all Leg 4. Driven by strategic interest and points of the overall scoreboard they cheered for Scallywag to take the victory. MAPFRE prefers Scallywag to take the bonus point of Leg 4 before Dongfeng or Akzonobel -their overall position board fighters take it and take a lead over them.

“[A win for Scallywag] would good for them but good for us too,” MAPFRE helmsman Rob Greenhalgh said. “With a bonus point available for winning the leg it would be best for us if that doesn’t go to Vestas or Dongfeng. We’re all rooting for Scallywag for multiple reasons. Go Scallywag!”

The north-easterly trade winds now dominate the run in to Hong Kong, limiting the tactical options available to the teams. Still some light wind zones remain which could play a difference if leading teams do not play their cards right.

“It's a new experience for us but it's a good one,” Scallywag skipper Dave Witt said. “We've only got 1,300 miles to go, so we're looking ok. We're in a pretty strong position, and we're going to get further ahead at the moment. The weather pattern suits us but the others are going to fall out of it. I expect us to extend our lead.”

Scallywag`s lead of Leg 4 did not come easy. They struggled the Doldrums, strategy, lost and won miles and even had a “man-overboard” situation.

Alex Gough crew member of Scallywag was thrown out the boat by a wave during a change of sail. In speeds of 15 to 20 knots and sun in mid sky the team activate rescue mode and seven long minutes after Alex was back on board unharmed.  

"The main thing is that he is back on board and safe. This has proven how hard it is to locate a man in the ocean. Even in a sunny day, with 18 knotts. I would not want to think about doing this in the dark with 20 knotts,” Skipper David Witt kicked it.

Alex later said he had been “pretty stupid” wearing no life vest or harness, nor had informed what he was doing when he was taken off the boat by the ocean. “Luckily the guys rescued me and reacted amazingly fast,” Alex said. “Doing alright, been through a panic...but we are back in action,” the sailor ended it.

The Team continued racing its way to Hong Kong -its Home Port leading the way of the fleet. Volvo Ocean Race warned that once the Doldrums had been gone “Danger had a new name and it was called Micronesia”.

Going through the tricky reef waters of Micronesia zigzagging islands became the next challenge of Leg 4.  

“The Fourth Stage of the Volvo Ocean Race has become an authentic challenge for Teams. Demanding conditions have varied completely compared to the Southern Ocean...now dangers are not hurricane winds nor icebergs but a series of tactical and strategic complications which test the mindset of Teams,” Volvo Ocean Race said.