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The Spanish entry and American boat “Puma” have been in the Doldrums since last night and are less than 6 nm away from each other

Last night “Telefónica” entered the realm of the Doldrums, the famous lulls at the Equator and probably one of the most important points on what's left of the course down to Cape Town, the final destination on this first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.

For the time being the forecasts look like the Doldrums won't be too cruel, although speeds on the Spanish boat and its maximum rival “Puma” have dropped some ten knots since yesterday. However, both are pushing forward with enough pressure to get up to 10.9 and 11 knots respectively.

“Telefónica” continues to hold a more westerly position. From on board the yacht, Skipper Iker Martínez explained why: “We are a bit further West because we want to be and now we'll have to see what the best option is and whether it is better to be further East, which might be more difficult short term to get past the Equator, but then later it might give a better course, once you are through... Or will it be our choice, which we have also gone for to avoid too many surprises as we want a good passage across the Equator and not to take too many risks. We'll have to see later.”

At around midnight GMT, with Team Telefónica making good progress, Ken Read's boat tacked West in order to get closer to the course being taken by Iker Martínez and co. Even so, at the 04:00 GMT position report “Puma” continued to be further East than the Spaniards and were enjoying more breeze, allowing them to go faster and to move back in to the provisional lead which the Americans are still hanging on to with a 5.7-nautical miles advantage on “Telefónica”.

That is definitely heating things up in the race, as Basque sailor Iker Martínez comments: “We've had some pretty intense days because we've got “Puma” very, very, close to us. Now they are ahead, we have been ahead, then they got away from us a bit with some cloud and some sail changes and then we caught up with them again... it's actually been really fun.”

With the lulls come light winds and the unexpected showers that surprise the fleet with a sudden release of rain and wind sometimes even accompanied by a storm which you have to be prepared for. On “Telefónica” the crew have been through the first of these already, as the team's Media Crew Member Diego Fructuoso points out: “We've got through the first big squall. Suddenly a huge cloud came along with 30 knots and rain and if you're not ready it you can be in for a rough ride. Thank goodness we were ready for it and we got through without a problem.”

An eye on Fernando de Noronha, the first non-scored waypoint

With the passage across the Equator still ahead and with the halfway point on the leg also drawing near, it's inevitable that on board “Telefónica” longer term decisions must also be taken and that is why it is important to think about the first waypoint on the course, even though it is not worth any points: the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha. There's also the final stretch of the leg that may offer the possibility of a new speed record...

“Once we are past the Equator I imagine we'll still be fighting with “Puma” because the boat speeds are very similar,” said the Basque skipper. “After that we'll have to go towards Fernando de Noronha and we'll move down the Brazilian coast where, in the other editions speed records have been set because there is usually a lot of breeze and really tough conditions. We have to start thinking about that a bit because whilst we still have the Equator to cross, once we are past it we will have to focus on the end of the leg and on that area with a lot of breeze. We don't want to break anything and we want the boat to hold up well and for everyone to be really careful.”

180 miles from King Neptune…

Diego Fructuoso is one of the two first-timers on this round the world regatta and he is continually surprised by the fact that the hundreds of stories he's heard from fellow sailors and colleagues are coming to life on this trip. The latest story to leap into life was that of the famous flying fish: “I'd been told about the flying fish that jump on the boat. I was curious and it's true that they really hit you and it can be very annoying...” said the Spaniard early this morning, whilst pondering on his first passage across the Equator and its possible consequences...

Maritime tradition says that anyone crossing Latitude 0º for the fist time on a boat must receive an on board visit from 'King Neptune', who generally plays a trick or two on the debutantes: “I've been throwing all of the flying fish that I find back in the sea because if not the rest of the crew will put them by for the famous “King Neptune”. There's not long for me to go now...”

The second first-timer on board, aussie Zane Gills, will be sharing the experience following the first ten days of offshore sailing on this round the world challenge: “Well it's been everything I expected and more, as the Volvo Ocean Race reputation should stand up to. It's been hot, wet, cold, everything... upwind, downwind, we've had the works so far. Body's got a few scratches, bruises, just the expected and the food's been quite good, it's been keeping us going, fuelling ourselves. Of course I'm looking forward to getting to Cape Town and I'm looking forward to hopefully getting there first...”

PROVISIONAL RANKINGS LEG 1

ALICANTE (SPAIN) – CAPE TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA): 6,500 nautical miles

Day 11 – 16:00 GMT – 15^th November 2011

1. Puma Ocean Racing (Ken Read), 3,799.4 miles

2. Team Telefónica (Iker Martínez), + 5.7 miles

3. Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand (Chris Nicholson), + 128.1 miles

4. Groupama Sailing Team (Franck Cammas), + 260.1 miles

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker), retired from Leg 1

Team Sanya (Mike Sanderson), retired from Leg 1