Where is Vestas? Hong Kong’s Scallywag back from stealth mode, still in front but with only a slender lead
The previously second-placed boat also went under the radar and could possibly be a threat to the Hong Kong yacht with less than 500 miles to go
With with less than 500 nautical miles to the finish line at Victoria Harbour as of 9pm on Wednesday, Scallywag maintained a 37 nautical mile lead over China’s Dongfeng as they sailed between the Philippines and Taiwan but the main question was the whereabouts of Vestas 11th Hour Racing – which was previously in second place and went into stealth mode as well.
David Witt and his crew had stubbornly pursued a more northerly course when they led by 90nm from Vestas as they headed for the Philippines, while the other boats decided to gybe to take a lower route.
The winds were definitely stronger to the south and it was just a matter of time before the Hong Kong boat would gybe to catch those faster gusts.
And when they eventually did, their lead rapidly narrowed until Vestas was only 45nm miles behind. That was when Witt decided to knock out the radar and go into stealth mode, which means they were able to go three positional updates – each separated by six hours – hidden from their rivals.
However, when they came back on at 9pm on Wednesday, Scallywag was heading towards an area of stronger winds near Babuyan with Vestas – barring an unlikely mishap – almost certainly either not far behind or having overtaken the Hong Kong boat.
Race analysts had earlier questioned whether or not Scallywag’s decision not to gybe earlier would cost them the race. Earlier, before they went into stealth mode, Scallywag crew member Annemieke Bes tweeted “Where o where shall we be”.