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Are we there yet?10th May 2010
“Estimated time of arrival (ETA), but what does that mean?” said Mohammed on the last Leg of the Indian ocean 5 Capes Race ahead Muscat, Oman. “So with all the information at out disposal right now, we estimate a time we will be there. If this was a quiet road with not much traffic and we were driving a car I would be happy to give an ETA. However, we are in the fickle Indian Ocean bobbing about in ever decreasing winds. We’re racing as fast as we can to the line - but with the weather patterns changing almost hourly, and the current against us, pushing us away from the finish line, trying to predict the correct ETA is a bit like threading a sailmaker’s needle with your eyes shut. The wind is now only 4.5 knots and we have slowed to 4 knots upwind. The temperature has soared to 40º by day and 35º by night. I think we can safely say we are all being tested on this final leg – mentally more than physically,” he reported. As Paul Standbridge, the skipper, said: “At least we don’t have kids sat on the back seat of the car asking “Are we there yet?” But if there were we would be saying, “We are doing our best! We’ll be there when we get there – not long to go now!” According to the last estimate Majan and her crew are hoping this will be on Wednesday May 12, with less than 580 nm to go, but they are in the hands of the weather gods, for the last time on the Indian Oceans 5 Capes Race! Visit the photo gallery below with new pictures of the end of Leg 5…


