Moderate trade winds have the teams speeding north.
Modeerate easterly tradewinds have provided a speedy 24 hours of racing for the four IMOCAs charging north towards the doldrums.
24 hour distance runs have nearly doubled (although are still far off a record-setting pace) as the wind has settled in around 12-14 knots.
The result is a drag race directly north, where the teams will leave the northeastern corner of Brazil to port - their current headings have them closing within about 30 miles of Recife, which is still about 120 miles to the north.
"We're just cruising north, up the Brazilian coast in moderate conditions" said Charlie Enright from the leading boat, 11th Hour Racing Team. "It doesn't look too windy until quite a bit later. Yesterday was a bit sketchy with almost doldrums like conditions. But we got out of it ok... All is well on board for now."
Some bad luck for GUYOT environnement - Team Europe who had been doing a remarkable job of keeping pace with its rivals over the past day or so. At one point on Sunday morning, the team was showing in second place, just 4 miles back.
The Ocean Race 2022-23 - 29 April 2023, Leg 4 Day 6 onboard Biotherm. Out wake at night after crossing a squall. © Anne Beauge / Biotherm / The Ocean Race
But shortly afterwards, skipper Ben Dutreux's boat steered towards the coast and slowed. The team reported a small technical issue - later confirming a broken 'foil down' line - that would cost them nearly 50 miles before they were back on track at pace.
"There is a little bit more wind now. We're flying again," said Dutreux from on board, before the incident. "And we're heading straight to the north of Brazil, quite fast. It's nice. It's also quite close with the other boats, anything can happen."
But now the team will need to fight hard to regain the lost miles. Perhaps the doldrums, looming a day or so ahead, could offer an opportunity.
"We have come out of the high pressure ridge and we are getting more of the easterly wind," said Team Malizia's Nico Lunven. "The next challenge is to round the northeast corner of Brazil. It's a bit difficult as we don't want to be too close to the shore, there is bad wind, thunderstorms at night, etc. But to go to Newport, the shortest way is to stick to the coast. We have to find the right balance.
"Then we have the doldurms before the get the north Atlantic trade winds. After that it will be faster."
The Ocean Race 2022-23 - 29 April 2023, Leg 4 Day 6 onboard Team Holcim - PRB. Drone image of Team Holcim PRB arriving to Rio de Janeiro with their jury-rig and motor. © Georgia Schofield | polaRYSE / Holcim - PRB / The Ocean Race
But those north Atlantic trades are still at least a couple of days away, with plenty of tricky transitions to manage before then.
Meanwhile, Team Holcim-PRB has confirmed they have a plan to rejoin the race in Newport ahead of leg 5, but this means retiring from leg 4.
Shortly after arriving in Rio on Saturday evening, skipper Kevin Escoffier said his team would put all of its efforts into being ready to race the transatlantic leg, with its double point scoring coefficient.
The latest positions are on the Race Tracker and the leaderboard is available here
The latest news is at www.theoceanrace.com and you can follow sailing’s greatest round-the-world challenge on Eurosport with every leg departure live and on-demand on discoveryplus.com or Eurosport.com
Cover photo The Ocean Race 2022-23 - 28 April 2023, Leg 4 Day 5 onboard 11th Hour Racing Team. Charlie Enright keeps tabs on the weather outside in tricky conditions. © Amory Ross / 11th Hour Racing / The Ocean Race
Ti Potrebbe Interessare Anche
The Ocean Race Europe torna a Genova
Quello tra la nostra città e The Ocean Race è un rapporto che si rafforza con la prossima edizione della gara Europe, portando una flotta...
37^ America's Cup: i quattro team che hanno presentato i loro AC75
Con l'avvicinarsi della 37a America's Cup, l'intensità sale e, con i quattro team che hanno presentato i loro AC75, è evidente che sono state...
37^ America's Cup: Magic e America si sfidano a Barcellona
Rimanendo fedeli al loro percorso di sviluppo, i NYYC American Magic hanno dato vita a un altro spettacolo ad alta intensità in una giornata di...
Ocean Globe Race: Maiden vince la Mcintyre OGR
Maiden trionfa conquistando l'oro IRC nella McIntyre Ocean Globe Race La vittoria di Maiden è ufficiale! - Maiden UK (03) ha vinto la McIntyre...
37^ America's Cup: una domenica con la nostra ''Macchina d'argento''
Dopo la delusione della sessione di sabato, interrotta da un piccolo problema tecnico, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli ha attraccato il suo bellissimo AC75 in...
Compagnia della Vela: veleggiata di apertura
Una bella giornata primaverile, con vento da est nordest di 10/ 14 nodi, ha accolto le 45 barche della veleggiata di apertura della stagione 2024 della...
37^ America's Cup: INEOS Britannia rivela prima dell'alba l'RB3
Le saracinesche della base INEOS Britannia si sono aperte poco dopo le 5 del mattino di sabato e al chiaro di luna, sotto la luce dei riflettori, è...
Circolo Nautico Santa Margherita: record di iscritti a La Duecento. 90 imbarcazioni...
A due settimane dal via de La Duecento, gli iscritti raggiungono quota 90 imbarcazioni, un record assoluto per la regata del Circolo Nautico Santa Margherita...
UpWind by MerConcept annuncia la rosa delle sette atlete selezionate per la stagione...
- Dopo quattro giorni di test mentali, fisici e in mare, sono state scelte sette atlete per far parte della squadra inaugurale di UpWind by MerConcept. -...