"Everything we do from now on is to set ourselves up for the Doldrums." – Ken Read
Kenny and his crew are preparing for their entry into the Doldrums. Typical of hitting this wind pattern, Navigator Andrew Cape will be preparing for PUMA's entry a few days ahead of time. According to PUMA Ocean Racing GM Kimo Worthington, the boats are forming a pattern similar to airplanes setting to land. They are planning their place of entry and making their final adjustments before they hit the Doldrums. The teams are expected to sail hard west all day then gybe as the wind switches to the east. The team will need to balance covering their competition verses sailing their own race. Whilst covering is a good strategy in the short term, Kenny reminded us today that it is important to keep in mind the big picture.
The tricky thing with the Doldrums is you never really know what you're going to get until you hit them. This is especially true this year because the weather has not followed a traditional pattern. Ken commented that this year, the Doldrums appear to be wider than normal and October is not the best time to be passing through. For you non-sailors out there the Doldrums is a band spanning the widest part of the globe - put into non-sailing terms it is the place where the toilets switch directions. The winds are shifty and traditionally, the first team in is the first team out. The wind is hot, the air is light and you can throw squalls into the weather mix. If you're caught on the wrong side of a squall you could end up sitting in no air for four to six hours.
So what can we expect for il mostro and our crew? The Doldrums are frustrating and nerve racking. The boat will be very hot, both on deck and below – the dark color graphics definitely do not help. The sailors will switch their sleeping bags for thin silk sheets. Our boys will eat less and drink a lot more water. We can expect the fleet to converge together with the light air then stretch out as the wind picks up. It will be a frustrating few days for the sailors, but will be very interesting to watch how it plays out from shore.
Our friend Mark Chisnell at the Volvo Ocean Race also gives us a great insight in his TEN ZULU Report from Day 7.
