China’s Dongfeng Race Team led the Volvo Ocean Race’s six-strong fleet out of New Zealand’s waters as the yachts finally set sail for the most daunting leg of the nine-month offshore marathon on Wednesday after the threat of Cyclone Pam subsided.
The deadly weather system, which swept through the South Pacific and led to widespread destruction and at least 11 deaths on the archipelago of Vanuatu, caused a three-day postponement of the fifth leg from Auckland to Itajam in south-east Brazil.
It’s going to be the first time the whole fleet sees a lot of wind for an extended period and it might shuffle the pack
Skippers and organisers agreed to hold up the start of the 6,776-nautical mile stage to allow the cyclone to clear the fleet’s planned route up New Zealand’s north island coast.
Dongfeng was making way in light winds as they left Auckland, but the fleet will not have too long to enjoy the benign conditions.
By the start of next week, they are forecast to reach the Southern Ocean where winds of up to 40 knots (75km/h) are expected to greet them.
From there, they take on the notorious Cape Horn off the southern tip of South America, graveyard for many a sailor over the centuries, where waves of up to 30 metres have been recorded.
The fleet will then turn north to re-enter the waters of the Atlantic for the first time since November, where they will race up the east coast of South America to Itajam.