Tacking battle around the top of Indonesia

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet was anticipating a possible shakeup of positions in the approach to the Straits of Malacca. And they were not disappointed.

CAMPER navigator Will Oxley said he thought there might be some action as they approached the top of Indonesia. “We didn’t think we would lay the point and fortunately neither did the others (Telefonica and Puma) and a close-quarters in-shore tacking duel followed.

Telefónica and CAMPER traded tack after tack on the 25 nautical mile beat to Pulau We, all the time stalked by PUMA just behind. Telefónica held off the sustained attacks and managed to cling to its lead, but there was only 0.1 of a nautical mile difference as they entered the strait.

Will Oxley: “You could have thrown a blanket over the three of us as we crossed the longitude of Palau We.”

As the leading pack began to round the island, Puma grabbed CAMPER’s second place when it cut the corner as CAMPER went further off-shore in search of better winds. But it didn’t last long. When the boats crossed again a few minutes later CAMPER had reclaimed second place.

In the evening CAMPER was back in front, with Telefonica second, 0.3 of a mile behind.

Just five nautical miles separated the four frontrunners, adding to the pressure of racing through a narrow body of water strewn with navigational hazards, while the other two boats are expected to close up as the fleet compresses.

“It’s not going to be a very peaceful few days,” said CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand navigator Will Oxley.

“Firstly because of the shipping and the narrow channels and secondly because we have three boats in very close company. It’s about 500-odd miles to Singapore so I’m getting prepared for not much sleep”

The passage through the Malacca Strait could take up to three days to sail. Teams must keep a constant watch for commercial shipping, fishing boats and nets and objects floating just below the surface.

And with light winds expected and strong tidal currents, there is a prospect competitors will have to anchor to avoid being carried in the wrong direction.

The team emerging from the strait first will hold a commanding position for the final part of the leg through the South China Sea to Sanya, China. A valuable 80% of the points for Leg 3 are at stake on the second stage, which started at the Maldives on Sunday and will take the fleet over 3,050 nm to Sanya, with an estimated finish of around February 5-6.

· The latest position report: Telefonica has made a break and is in the lead with the gap rising to the rest of the fleet. Puma is second and CAMPER third. The fleet is spread over 80 nautical miles.