Pity Telefonica Blue and its crew. What can you say when you're 6,000 miles from port with 6,000 miles to go and the forestay fitting snaps in two? A jury rig with halyards will keep the mast up so long as the wind is at your back. But you're crippled upwind. And half-way between you and Rio is Cape Horn. Port William in Chile is one possiblity - but that's 3,000 miles. Heading west to New Zealand for repairs is another - but that's upwind - and the winds are light in that direction.
Other than that all is copacetic in the fleet with only 96 nm separating 1st from 5th place 3 weeks out of Qingdao, as they head east to the two ice gates - mid-Pacific points above which the boats must pass to stay clear of the iceberg zone. And points are gained for your position at each gate.
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