Start of leg three postponed due to severe weather forecast

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Unai Basurko in Norfolk

It seems Friday the 13th is unlucky for the VELUX 5 OCEANS yacht race, as Race Director David Adams today announced that the start of leg three has been postponed as a result of the severe weather expected to hit Norfolk, Virginia (USA), over the weekend. With less than 48 hours to go before the fleet of skippers were due to set sail for Bilbao, (Basque Country) and complete their solo circumnavigation of the planet, the weather has dealt a blow to race start plans as a powerful low pressure system moves into the Chesapeake north of Norfolk and looks set to deliver intense storm conditions, reminiscent of the start of the race in Bilbao.

The latest forecast from NOAA show 40-55 knots of wind offshore (over 20 miles from land) on Sunday morning, with gusts up to 60 knots and waves of 25 feet east of 1,00 fathoms (over 100 miles offshore). After the front has hit, the storm is then expected to back off with up ocean machines would not only contend with these challenging conditions, but would have to battle against the tides, significantly worsening the sea state and increasing risk of damage.

Speaking following a briefing with skippers, teams and sponsors, David Adams concluded, “ It was clearly not an easy decision to postpone the start of the third leg, but we felt it was absolutely necessary in order to guarantee the safety of the skippers and the safety of the local community here in Norfolk. All the weather models are predicting a front that will hit the area on Sunday and deliver strong winds, heavy rainfall and big seas”.

Adams continued, “ We spoke to the best weather experts in the country and leading local meteorologists who know the regional patterns and impact of these storms. At the same time, we worked closely with the skippers and sponsors to share information and reach a decision that was best for the race and the teams. Although the skippers regularly battle big seas and strong winds in the Southern Ocean, we did not want to jeopardise their safety at the outset. The horrendous storm in the Bay of Biscay at the start of the race vividly illustrated what is possible when you underestimate nature and the power of ocean”.

“It is also imperative to ensure the safety of the local community and resident of Hampton Roads who may wish to watch the start o the race and bid farewell to the skippers. The Coast Guard did not want a spectator fleet to be at risk in the Bay and the conditions have led the local authorities to issue a warning to small boats and ban helicopter movements. Finally, any transfers between RIBs and the yacht would have been hazardous and I could not ultimately guarantee a controlled and safe start line and area for preparation”.

Race organisers have not seta a new time for the start but will review the situation every 12 hours and make their decisions as the weather develops, in constant consultation with meteorologists from across USA and Europe, as well as the skippers and their teams. The news is a blow to the planned events for start day, which included a helicopter trip for the skippers out to HMS OCEAN and festivities down at he Waterside Marina in Norfolk. However, the guests from Velux and representatives from the city of Norfolk to formally bid farewell and celebrate the end of the stopover in Virginia.

Norfolk is accustomed to such large storms, known locally as “Nor¿easterns”. Nor¿easterns are usually formed by a surface low pressure area and tend to intensify as they move close to land. Tony Seinbers, Meteorologist in Charge of the Wakefield Forecast Office of NOAA, commented, “Nor ¿easters typically occur in the fall and spring and happen around three to four times a year. They tend to deliver heavy rain, lots of wind and often-coastal flooding as ocean water is pushed into the Chesapeake Bay. In this case, we are expecting over an inch of rain from a big thunderstorm on Sunday morning and strong winds all day”.

It is not the first time the VELUX 5 OCEANS organisers have been forced to make such a decision. In the 1994 Around Alone, when Davis Adams finished first in Class II, the start of leg four from Punte del Este was postponed due to weather conditions, as was the second leg in the 2002 Around Alone from Brixham to Cape Town. The 2000 Vendee Globe also saw a four-day postponement due to severe weather conditions in western France. Race organisers will continue to keep media and public informed of all decisions and developments.