Oskar Kihlborg/Volvo Ocean Race
Tuesday 18 November 2008
Leg two is off two a fast start! Despite the upwind conditions on the first night, and the large sea state, the fleet has covered more than 1000 miles since Saturday.
At this point everyone is flying downwind with strong W to SW'ly breeze, racing east towards the scoring gate.
The winds across the fleet are currently being driven by the strong WSW'ly pressure gradient around the top of a southern ocean low.
The tail end of a cold front extending north from this low moved over the fleet on Monday, causing the winds to back left to a gusty and cold SW'ly flow.
At this point the shortest distance to the scoring gate is to continue due east; however, the backing winds could make for a good opportunity to start heading north.
Over the next 48 hours, the rapidly moving systems of the Southern Ocean will offer plenty of opportunities for each team to make their move north.
Through the beginning of the week the southern ocean lows will continue to dominate the conditions; with the next low expected to catch up to the fleet on Thursday.
Meanwhile, high pressure forming to the north of the fleet will have a more and more significant influence as the week goes on.
For today, a new high will start to develop southwest of Madagascar. Through the day Wednesday, this high is expected to build, tracking east.
Then in the early hours of Thursday morning, about the same time the leaders are expected to reach the scoring gate, the tail end of the next cold front will pass over the fleet.
Once this cold front passes, the high will shift south building rapidly and moving northeast through the end of the week.
Hopefully the teams can tap into the S'ly pressure gradient around the leading edge of this high to make their way north.
Jennifer Lilly