After PUMA Ocean Racing (Ken Read/USA) posted their first leg win of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 on Friday, Groupama sailing team (Franck Cammas/FRA) and CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand (Chris Nicholson/AUS), are today back at sea.
Groupama, who are chasing 20 points for third position, were dismasted on April 4 and put in to Punta Del Este in Uruguay to step a jury rig. The team left Punta del Este around 0500 GMT this morning, sailing the final 650 nautical miles (nm) short-handed. Four crew, including navigator Jean Luc Nélias stepped off the boat and will re-join the team in Itajaí at the finish. The team were sailing with a heavily reefed mainsail and a staysail set from the longer part of the mast that was recovered.
At 1000 GMT this morning, the team were making good progress, sailing at around eight knots.
Meanwhile, CAMPER, who docked at Puerto Montt in Chile to repair structural damage, departed at 0600 GMT and are making their way towards the point, 160 nm ahead, where they suspended racing on at 0130 GMT on April 2. They are expected to take up to 14 hours to reach their start point. It will take at least 10 days to complete the grueling voyage of approximately 3,000 nm around Cape Horn before they cross the finish in Itajaí. For finishing in fourth place, they will collect 15 points, following the retirement of Team Sanya (Mike Sanderson/NZL) and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR).
