The Dragon's westward gamble has paid off as they top the leader board in a major reshuffle of the VOR fleet. On Sunday evening the Galway entry took the lead as the race effectively restarted. Green Dragon's careful plotting produced a 30-mile lead at the doldrums, a point approximately one third of the distance travelled on the first leg to Capetown. On Saturday Green Dragon was in fourth place, 85 miles behind leader Puma but as the eight boat fleet slowed up entering the doldrums.
The compression of the last 24 hours has also meant a re-cutting of the pack and by 1600 GMT Ian Walker's Green Dragon had been dealt the best hand.
Navigator Ian Moore's westward gamble has paid dividends for the time being at least. "West is best they say and we've had to give up a lot to get out here," said Moore in an interview with Volvo Ocean Race HQ. "We all talked about it and so often it pays, but it was pretty hard watching the other guys turn south towards the Doldrums," he said.
The Nordic crew of Ericsson 3 was second at 7 miles Distance To Leader (DTL) with long-time leader PUMA relegated to third +8 (DTL). As ever, not much between Ken Read's men and at least one of the Ericsson boats.
Thereafter the pecking order was thus: Delta Lloyd and Telefonica Blue +35, who have benefitted from the leaders hitting the wall to the Doldrums. Ericsson 4 +39 has been the big loser while Team Russia +40 and Telefonica Black +64 round out the positions.
Everywhere the hot topic is the temperature as the mercury rises.
