The Ocean Race: where did the wind go? It’s coming!!

A fast and furious start sequence out of Cape Town has given way to light winds as the fleet attempts to work to the south and the promise of stronger conditions.

After beating upwind into the teeth of a gale on Sunday evening, things have slowed down for The Ocean Race fleet - now back up to a full complement of five racing boats - on Monday morning. 

The Ocean Race 2022-23 - 26 February 2023, Leg 3 Start Day onboard Team Malizia. Nicolas Lunven as they get away from the Cape Town landscape. © Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia

The five IMOCA crews are bumping into a small ridge of high pressure and the light winds associated with it. They’ll have to push through this to get south and into the higher latitudes of the Roaring 40s to pick up the train of low pressure systems that will deliver them around Antarctica and towards Cape Horn on this longest leg in race history. 

But there is another obstacle as well. A very strong eddy from the Agulhas current - has at times been pushing the boats north at up to four knots. 11th Hour Racing Team and Team Malizia appear to have been particularly punished by this. 

The Ocean Race 2022-23 - 26 February 2023, Nice start of Leg 3 onboard Holcim - PRB Team. © Julien Champolion | polaRYSE / Holcim - PRB

Finally, when the teams do make it to the south, they’ll face some of the strongest winds and fearsome seas they’ve seen in the Race. 

By noon on Tuesday 28 February, the wind is forecast to be near 40 knots, with waves of up to six metres. It will be very challenging conditions. 

The Ocean Race 2022-23 - 27 February 2023, Leg 3 Start day onboard Biotherm. Skipper Paul Meilhat leaving the Cape Town lights behind. © Ronan Gladu / Biotherm

On the race course, both 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm rejoined the race after making repairs. Skipper Charlie Enright had his 11th Hour Racing Team ready to go as soon as the mandatory two-hour period expired. 

For Paul Meilhat, it took longer to source supplies and start the repairs, but he was able to leave the dock just before midnight in Cape Town and restart a few minutes later at 22:21 UTC. The light conditions have allowed Meilhat and his team to close the gap significantly already, showing the wisdom of the decision to take a short break to ensure his boat is ready for the rigours ahead. Repairs continue on board. 

The Ocean Race 2022-23 - 27 February 2023, Leg 3, Start Day onboard GUYOT environnement - Team Europe. Sébastien Simon and Benjamin Dutreux getting ready for the first night. Charles Drapeau / GUYOT environnement - Team Europe

Kevin Escoffier and his Team Holcim - PRB are in a familiar position at the front of the fleet, perhaps just nosing through the ridge, with Benjamin Dutreux and Robert Stanjek’s GUYOT environnement - Team Europe very close behind. 

“The wind has been a bit lighter than expected,” said Escoffier during the night. “We are also in the ‘current loop’ which is pushing against us.”

The Ocean Race 2022-23 - 27 February 2023, Leg 3 Start day onboard Biotherm. Sam Davies and Paul Meilhat check the tracker after departing Cape Town 10 hours after the start after getting the damage fixed. Ronan Gladu / Biotherm

The next 24 to 36 hours will be a fascinating period in this race.

The latest positions are available on The Race Tracker here 

Follow the racing at www.theoceanrace.com and www.eurosport.com/sailing