Exciting Developments in Global Races

Three boats racing around the world are rounding significant points of land today. First, in the Volvo Ocean Race, Groupama 4 rounded Cape Horn in daylight clear enough to get a really good picture.

Puma, nipping at their heels, rounded the Horn less than an hour later. The two boats have been 10-17 miles apart during the last couple of updates. “Puma is now our most dangerous rival," said Groupama skipper Franck Cammas, "so we’re sailing according to what she does."

Meanwhile, 1,000 miles back, Abu Dhabi carried out a five-hour mid-ocean repair job, stalling out their boat and heeling it over to repair delamination to a mid-section of the hull. Bowman Justin Slattery was lowered overboard while securely fastened to a halyard, so that he could tighten bolts on the outside of the hull. “We’ve basically joined the skins back together with a mechanical fix,” skipper Ian Walker said. Watch a video of the repair below, then see www.volvooceanrace.com for more.

And the third boat rounding a significant point of land today? She’s Gold Coast Australia, which should be coming around Point Reyes any minute now, closing in on the Golden Gate Bridge finish line of Leg 6 from Qingdao, China, in the Clipper Round the World Race. She’ll be docking at Jack London Square in Oakland, and Latitude 38 is in charge of welcoming her into port. You can follow her progress, and that of the nine boats chasing her in a tight group, via the Race Viewer on www.clipperroundtheworld.com. And if you’d like to help Latitude staff and friends greet Gold Coast, sign up here for email updates on the greeting time and activities.