Calm before the Storm

The Volvo Ocean 60s are in for a caning

Positions at 1000GMT

PS	Yacht	Latitude	Longitude	DTF	DTL	SMG	CMG	ETA
1	Illbruck	40 53.76N	044 29.88W	1884	0	12.8	26	09/05/02 22:56
2	Assa Abloy	40 23.56N	044 39.04W	1903	19	11.7	26	10/05/02 00:30
3	Tyco	40 17.60N	044 43.36W	1908	24	11	34	10/05/02 00:58
4	SEB	40 00.12N	044 58.96W	1927	43	5.7	83	10/05/02 02:29
5	News Corp	39 59.64N	045 01.00W	1928	44	6.8	74	10/05/02 02:37
6	Amer One	39 59.08N	045 01.32W	1929	45	8.9	65	10/05/02 02:39
7	djuice	39 53.84N	045 17.28W	1942	58	7.8	74	10/05/02 03:46
8	Amer Too	42 52.96N	061 24.84W	4512	2628	7.4	322	Retired

The front runners in leg seven of the Volvo Ocean Race have now passed the eastern waypoint at the south of the 'icebox' and have forged off to the north east to get back to the rhum line to La Rochelle.

Meanwhile the crews are carrying out the Volvo Ocean Race equivalent of battened down their hatches in preparation for an intense depression (981) that is currently forming over Nova Scotia and coming their way (see below). This is forecast to bring with it 40 knot winds and for the crews will be a sharp reminder that the 'big weather' in the Volvo Ocean Race is no solely limited to the Southern Ocean.

At present through the boats are sailing in the light winds associated with the a high presure ridge.

At present Lisa McDonald's team on the dismasted Amer Sports Too are making 7.4 knots towards Halifax under jury rig and this morning had 150 miles to go.
Due to the imminent deterioration in the weather the Joint Rescue Command in Halifax has sent out the vessel Edward Cornwallis to assist Amer Sport Too and may tow her into Halifax. They will rendezvous with the boat at approximately 1100 GMT today.

Forecast wind vector chart for midnight Saturday