Emirates Team New Zealand: The chase begins

Emirates Team New Zealand: The chase begins

13 November 2011

On day eight of leg one CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand are holding their position and focused on chasing down new race leader Puma.

CAMPER remains in fourth place 118 miles behind and having gybed overnight is now heading south in pursuit of Puma and Telefonica.

Running lower than the other two westerly boats conditions are good with CAMPER making the most of the strong frontal system.

Skipper Chris Nicholson says that the focus now is on getting south as quickly as possible and through the doldrums in the best shape possible.

"The next 30 hours are key for us - if we can make our way through the north easterly trades better than the other boats and we arrive in the doldrums well positioned then we'll be back in the fight.

"We need to pick up our performance and here's a good chance.

"It's a relief to be honest to be back in some wind and sailing some decent angles after all that time beating west waiting to pick up this front.

"I think we can now be pretty confident that sticking west was the right call and it looks like Groupama will have some real issues getting out from the African coast into some decent pressure."

CAMPER at 1800h 13 November NZT is north of the Cabo Verde Islands averaging 15 knots in a 15 knot north easterly.

Further information and race updates will be available on www.etnzblog.com.

ENDS

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