Clipper 05-06: Across the Grand Banks

With the exception of Durban and Cardiff, who are aiming to skim the southern tip of it, the whole fleet is now passing over the Grand Banks just south of Newfoundland. This area of relatively shallow (50 to 100m, as opposed to the 3000m plus of the surrounding ocean) is an area of converging currents and weather systems, and as such can be quite challenging from a race navigation point of view. The wind over the next 24 hours or so should continue to be no more than 15 knots from a point somewhere between south west and north west, and this will make for good sailing, but not completely powered up sailing, so the yachts which have found the best current will be at an advantage.