Sir Robin Knox-Johnston back in third in Route du Rhum race

Laura Hodgetts

With 275 miles to go to the finishing line at Point à Pitre...

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has moved back into third place in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe and has a lead of 13 miles on the distance to finish over the boat in fourth.

With 275 miles to go to the finish line at Point à Pitre, can the British adventurer hold onto the lead in the battle for the final podium place of the Rhum class?

Clipper Race Founder and Chairman Sir Robin, on his Open 60 Grey Power, is currently making 10.7 knots, and Wilfrid Clerton on Cap Au Cap Location in fourth is making 8.4 knots.

Sir Robin is 46.2 miles behind Andrea Mura in second on Vento Di Sardegna.

Sir Robin is sailing in around 19 knots of Easterly to Easterly by Northerly winds that are predicted to increase to 25 knots with squalls today by Clipper Race meteorologist Simon Rowell.

Here is Sir Robin’s latest blog, sent this morning.

Back into third place, but can we hold it? We have had an amazing run of luck with the wind, as only late last night did we get pushed off the direct course for the north end of Guadeloupe. It means we shall have to put a couple of gybes in to get around the top, but they won’t be huge ones.

This has led to a tightening of the positions between second and ourselves in fourth, too soon to see whether it will be enough for us to close right up. We were just 15 miles further from the finish than Cap au Cap Location in third place at midnight GMT with 350 miles to go. It’s all going to come down to how you get through the wind shadow of the mountains on the west of the island.

So it has been a continuation of the crashing ahead policy, keeping the speed high and aiming as close as possible to the rhumb line.

That makes for fun with one of my little treats, the sea water shower.

Getting the bucket to go into the water at the transom, instead of bouncing along behind, can be difficult. Even when you do fill it, half the contents are bounced out before you can haul it back on board. Still it’s worth it. That delicious stream of cold sea water over one’s head is a delight few, outside sailors, would appreciate.

RKJ

Picture credit: Clipper Ventures