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The chaos in the Doldrums continues causing headaches and big differences in the fleet formation in both the Prototypes and Series Divisions. The past few hours in this area of the Atlantic has proved how difficult positioning decisions can be in the search for breeze.

Hugo Ramón, now fourth in the Series División and Anna Corbella, sixteenth in the Protos are the best-placed Spaniards in the fleet and continue to reduce gaps and push forwards to the top of the fleet. Frenchman Thomas Ruyant is first in the Prototypes, demonstrating his worth as favourite for this difficult leg.

The jumble in the Doldrums continues

The fleet doesn’t have long left in the Doldrums, but the difference in the force of breeze in the area continues to wreak havoc in the rankings. The boats have managed speeds from half a knot to seven knots. This has caused massive shifts in position on the rankings table. Thomas Ruyant was the only sailor to distance himself from these changes, increasing his lead further.

The boats that have chosen to stay west have reaped the rewards of the call and have climbed positions. Hugo Ramón was the best example of how successful the tactic was. The skippers who chose to stay east, in search of the trades, found themselves with less wind and have dropped back from the rest of the fleet.

Right now the aim in all of the skipper’s sights is to reach the trades first and therefore pick up speed. Forecasts are indicating that the fleet should soon be entering an area with 6 to 8 knots of breeze, which should increase as they get closer to the Brazilian coast.

The aim for now should reveal itself tomorrow with the trades and from thereon the next strategic objective will be Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

Hugo Ramón reduces the gap with race leader

Happiness for the Mini GAES Solidaria team fleet as Hugo Ramón scales no less than thirteen positions in the last 24 hours and moves into fourth place in the rankings of the Series Division. He has also reduced the gap with the race leader by half, and is now 26.89 miles away. This great achievement came from good tactics, as the Spaniard chose to defend his position to the West of the fleet. Joel Miró is also to the West and has climbed two places and shaved the gap with the leader by just over thirty miles.

Anna Corbella and Gerard Marín chose to stick with the bulk of the fleet and have managed to hold their positions and to reduce the distance with the fleet leader. Anna is now 55.51 miles from Thomas Ruyant and Gerard is 82.96 miles from the French skipper.

Juan Carlos Sanchís and Toni Weijl have ad a tougher time to the East with less breeze. They have dropped back three places during the night, but they hope to hit a new area of wind in the next few hours.

Rankings 05:00 GMT:
Prototypes Division:                                                     

1.    Ruyant, Thomas / Faber France (FRA), 1,260.13 miles from finish.
2.    Cuinet, François / Plan Jardin (FRA), 13.74  miles from leader.  
3.    Brasseur, Pierre/ Région Nord Pas de Calais-Ripolin (FRA), 15.16 miles from leader.
....
16.  Corbella, Anna / Gaes Solidaria (ESP), 55.51 miles from leader.
….
19.  Marín, Gerard / Gaes Solidaria (ESP), 82.96 miles from leader.
20.  Sanchis, Juan Carlos / Somni – Gaes Solidaria (ESP), 84.67 miles from leader.
….
23.  Weijl, Toni / Gaes Solidaria (ESP), 102.2 miles from leader.
33 entries.

Series Division:

1.    Lobato, Francisco / Roff Tmn (ITA), 1,292.32 miles from finish.
2.     Apolloni, Ricardo / MaVie pour Mapei (ITA), 17.85 miles from leader.
3.     Dalin, Charlie / Cherche Spansor- charliedalin.com (FRA), 24.18 miles from leader.
4.    Ramon, Hugo / Nassau – Gaes Solidaria (ESP), 26.89 miles from leader.
…
31.   Miró, Joel / Gaes Solidaria (ESP), 140,75 miles from leader.
47 entries