Yachting: Camper look to make gains in doldrums

Camper is eyeing up the fast-approaching doldrums as a key opportunity to pull in Volvo Ocean Race leg two leader Groupama.

The French team's risky decision to go south in search of a better breeze and sailing angle has paid off with them now enjoying a clear advantage over the rest of fleet in strong reaching conditions, while Camper, Puma, Telefonica and Abu Dhabi battle strong head winds further west.

As a result Groupama has built a lead of 53 nautical miles over second-placed Telefonica, with Camper 20 miles further back in fourth place. All four boats are due east of Madagascar on the run from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi.

However, within the next 48 hours Groupama's advantage will be challenged as the boats close in on the doldrums and encounter the unpredictable weather conditions common in the area.

At this time of year in the Indian Ocean the fleet is likely to effectively face two separate doldrum regions to cross, increasing the likelihood of boats being caught out and the leadership board bunching up.

Camper skipper Chris Nicholson said he was focusing on the doldrums as the place to make gains.

"Full credit to the French for making the call they did. It was high risk but it has paid off.

"The reality now is that there's not much we can do over the next day or so to pull in Groupama as they're in such better pressure than us. Unfortunately, we just have to soak up the pain.

"But the moment we hit the doldrums it becomes a very different equation. The doldrums zone is shaping up to be pretty wide this time around and that means there should be plenty of opportunities presenting themselves to us.

"If we can take full advantage of these opportunities then we could potentially be in a strong position.

"This would have to be one of the harder legs I've been in. It feels like there's been a lot of hitting our heads up against a brick wall and with a good proportion of the leg still to go I don't think it's over yet by a long shot."