Volvo Fortunes Turn

Last week, all eyes were on Franck Cammas and Groupama 4 as the French entry split from the other three remaining boats in leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race. Picking their way down the African coast, Cammas’ crew packed on as much as a 250-mile lead over Ken Read’s Puma, Iker Martinez’ Telefónica and Chris Nicholson’s Camper, as the latter three made signifianct westing, but no significant distance to the first mark of the course — the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha. Days later, Cammas’ risky move turned up nothing but a 360-mile deficit at a point when the leaders — Puma and Telefónica — have already blasted through the Doldrums and into the Southeast Trades. The weather looks favorable for Puma and Telefónica to continue to put up good days, with Camper poised to hang tough. Unfortunately for Groupama, it’s pretty much game over for leg one.