Weather analysis: Doldrums on the move

The trade winds are still well established in both North and South. Between the two, the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (aka the Doldrums) appears to be significantly loosening its grip compared the situation the IMOCA faced, and is shifting east. The bulk of the Class40 fleet that will approach it on Sunday and Monday have every interest in aiming for a fairly western point of entry, with the bulk of cloud activity and squalls forecast to be east of the 30th degree of longitude.

On the coast of Bahia, the leaders of the IMOCA fleet are starting to seriously ease the sheets. The wind is almost parallel to the coast over the last 150 miles of the course and we can expect a great battle of the gybes at the end of the course to finally decide the first five places.