Sitting nicely in a tight race

Sitting nicely in a tight race

23 January 2012

After the first day of Leg Three, Part B CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand has made a solid start sitting in second place just behind race leader Puma in what is shaping up to be a tight race.

After making a strong start and holding a slender lead overnight CAMPER slipped back to second place in light conditions this morning but is in a tactically strong position to windward of Puma.

In the tightly bunched fleet CAMPER is 2 nautical miles behind first placed Puma, with Groupama in third place a few hundred metres further off the pace. The entire fleet is separated by less than six miles.

CAMPER made light work dodging the atolls and other obstacles around the Maldives and is now well into the north east trade winds straight-line drag race across the Indian Ocean to the Malacca Strait that is likely to take a few days.

CAMPER Skipper Chris Nicholson says that it has been a solid first 24 hours for the team.

“We had a nice start and since then things have been going pretty smoothly. Our crew work has been good and overall I’m pretty happy with where we’re sitting

“It’s a bit of a case of snakes and ladders at the moment and although Puma have got a paper advantage over us currently I think we’re in a strong position being upwind of them.

“The monsoon conditions we’re likely to see over the next few days are going to produce plenty of sail changes so it’s really pleasing to see how quickly the guys have got back into things.

“When the fleet is this tightly bunched any little problem or niggle can be costly so we’re really focused on our crew work.

“To be honest it’s just great to be back out here. I think everyone has breathed a sigh of relief to be back sailing and have all off the interruptions behind us.”

CAMPER in the latest position report at 1400h 23 January NZT is averaging 11.9. knots in a 12 knot north easterly.

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