American team Puma gambled in the Volvo Ocean Race Friday, sailing 250 nautical miles north of the leaders on a course taking them towards Japan rather than the Leg 4 destination of Auckland.
With the rest of the fleet bunched tightly together waiting for the weather system that will catapult them south to New Zealand, Puma decided to actively seek out the strong breeze expected far to the north.
If their hunch is right, they could find themselves in 20 knots of wind many hours before their rivals -- a head start that could take them all the way to the finish line in first place.
If the breeze is not as strong as they hope, or is shifting in direction, their decision to head so far north could consign them to last place.
"We would have liked to do it differently but we see an opportunity in the north that could set us up for the long run south," said Puma navigator Tom Addis.
"For sure we are apprehensive. Right now it's expensive, painful, nerve wracking and all those negative things."
The ploy left their rivals open mouthed.
"Phew!" said Telefonica navigator Andrew Cape. "They were next to us yesterday when we were in the light winds. They chose to go north to get the breeze and it's... interesting, shall we say.
"I mean once they get the breeze they are looking for they will be on course and going quite well, but they have some catching up to do."
Puma certainly need the points a successful gamble would bring them. The team that finished second in the last race are down in fourth in the standings this time, 48 points behind overall leaders Telefonica after breaking their mast on the first leg.
Camper/Team New Zealand, who are in second place overall, lead the leg by around 7.5 nm from French team Groupama, with Chinese team Sanya in third.
The boats should arrive in Auckland around March 8-10.
The race finishes in Galway in July.
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