Watch the Volvo Ocean In Port Race in Abu Dhabi live
Friday is the Europe’s Saturday here in the United Arab Emirates which is why this particular in port race is a day earlier than normal. Tomorrow, Saturday, sees the start of leg 3 to Sanya.
Today’s in port racing starts at 1400 local (10am GMT) and will be covered live here.
Aside from the normal issues regarding close competition between understaffed, high powered boats on the eve of a major offshore leg, is the weather itself.
While perfect conditions exist in the morning as the offshore breeze drains the air from the hot desert out over the sea, by midday the sea breeze starts to build producing a dead zone as the breeze switches ends. Yesterday the switch happened at around the time that today’s start is due, hence plenty of chewed fingernails today.