Club Med in the calm before the storm

The internationally crewed giant catamaran Club Med continues to hold an important lead in The Race. At noon today that lead was still more than 750 miles over Innovation Explorer, although this is unlikely to grow over the next 24 hours as the Grant Dalton-skippered boat sails into calmer weather ahead of the next big Southern Ocean depression.

Sailing giant overpowered multihulls in the Southern Ocean is a constant balancing act between sailing too far North and into lighter winds and longer distances, or sailing a shorter distance to the South and battling with storm force winds and big seas. It isn't as clear cut as that however and anticipating the weather and positioning the boat accordingly is a constant worry for the afterguard, both on and off watch. Grant Dalton woke up from his off watch with some strange sensations this morning:

"When I woke up this morning something was very different. The boat seemed almost level. It didn't appear or feel to be particularly loaded up and I had this overwhelming feeling of safety. We were no longer being buffeted and catapulted into the trough of yet another wave. I looked along the inside of the port hull where my bunk is and I saw what appeared to be a ray of sunlight coming through the main hatch. My first reaction was unrepeatable. My second reflection was that we were too far North and coming under the influence of the Indian Ocean High."

The balance and compromise required to find the most efficient route through this part of the world means dropping out of ideal conditions in the short term so as to stay safe in the medium and long term. Navigator Mike Quilter:

"I believe we are currently positioned about right. According to my weather charts we aren't too far South where we will get whacked hard by the next 'bomb' of a depression that's coming through. To go with this we have plenty of runway on port tack left before we get caught in the clutches of the Indian Ocean high pressure zone to the North. This next little depression will pass through in a couple of day's time and then we can head South again."

Skipper Grant Dalton again:

"35 knots that's all we want. Any more and we can't use it. In fact we end up going slower. But I will savour this day in the Southern Ocean when the wind is only blowing 25 knots, the waves are even and regular and only three metres high, knowing that we have about 24 hours remaining until all Hell breaks loose again. I might even allow myself to think about being in the lead for the first time. Enjoy the moment. I can't allow that indulgence to last too long however as we have to get back to the business of sailing as rationally and as hard as we dare, as ours is a very tentative lead, one that can be swept away with a single BANG. And that's what the opposition are waiting for, for us to go over the top."

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com The Race Information Page