Race update 5: Friday 26 Sept am

Tension mounts in anticipation of race start!

The breeze has picked up overnight, currently N 5-10 kts, as a result of which the Race Committee have decided that the race to Funchal will start at 1200hrs GMT today, 26 September, at position 37°32'N 011°35'W.

The new startline has been moved further out into the Atlantic and has been posted on the fleet tracking chart.  Race fleet tracking will commence after the first reporting time this evening.

The forecast is for ENE 6-8 kts consistently throughout today, increasing to NE 12-13 kts later. 

Pogoria (Poland) is still 100 miles from the fleet and will not be at the start area by 1200hrs, but, as with the rest of the fleet, has 24 hours to pass through the start line in order to be considered to be racing.   

Further reports will follow later today.

Pic:  Shabab Oman (Oman) and Mir (Russia)