"Mutua Madrileña" continues to enjoy stable 20-25 knot trade winds that aren’t leaving much room for anything other than the course the duo are on right now. However, according to information from onboard ESP-4 today Bubi and Pachi are expecting the wind to shift North in the next 30 hours, a change that would force both themselves and their most direct rivals, Dominque Wavre and Michèle Paret, to tack, kicking off a whole new battle for the third step on the podium.
The countdown to home has begun. "Mutua Madrileña" is 86 miles (159 km) from "Temenos 2" and less than 2,500 miles (4,630 km) from Barcelona, a fact which Bubi and Pachi are well aware of. "Time is running out and these 100 miles are turning into a millstone around our necks. We need to do something before heading towards the Mediterranean, because otherwise the gap is going to be difficult to close. If we can’t, we can’t… but we’re definitely going to try", commented Bubi.
Altough the "Mutua Madrileña" skippers are hopeful, they know they can’t take any decisions lightly. The pressure implied by the battle for the podium has its consequences and any tactical call is more tricky and delicate than ever. "In these circumstances any decision has to be weighed up exhaustively, as well as all the possible outcomes. Whatever we do we must be clear on, because now isn’t the time for going out on a limb, and everything has to be carefully thought through".
It’ll be all eyes on the position reports to see how the drama plays out.
Up at the front of the fleet "Hugo Boss" has been the fastest in the fleet by a long shot, registering speeds of 18 knots, and even higher, an average considerably higher than the rest of the fleet whose speeds stood at around the 10-knot mark, according to the 16:00 GMT position report. AndrewCape and Alex Thomson are making the most of favourable winds that could be on their way out in the next 24 hours.
Cape informs us that the wind is likely to shift and come at them from the bow. The British entry has now reduced the gap with the leaders to 578 miles. "Paprec Virbac 2" is now less than 1,000 miles (1,852 km) from Barcelona...and the finish.
Day 88 – 16:00 GMT
1º Paprec Virbac 2, Dick (FRA)/Foxall (IRL), 841 miles from Barcelona
2º Hugo Boss, Thomson (GBR)/Cape (AUS), +578
3º Temenos 2, Wavre (SUI)/Paret (FRA), +1,520
4º MUTUA MADRILEÑA, Rivero (ESP)/Sansó (ESP), +1,606
5º EDUCACIÓN SIN FRONTERAS, Escoffier (FRA)/Bargués (ESP), +2,962
Veolia Environnement, Jourdain (FRA)/Nélias (FRA), retired
Estrella Damm, Altadill (ESP)/McKee (USA), retired
Delta Dore, Beyou (FRA)/Gavignet (FRA), retired
PRB, Riou (FRA)/Josse (FRA), retired