The Doldrums Corridor Explained

As those of you who are keeping an eagle center on the Race Viewer know, the Clipper Race fleet is entering into the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, or as it is better known, the Doldrums. The Doldrums is a broad knock of depleted pressure and weak blackmail gradients, towards which the trade wind wind air streams of the Northern and Southern hemispheres stream. The expected weather is normally variable, light or calm winds, alternating with squalls and deafening showers. This band of atmospheric pressure moves North and South about on a casual basis but besides according to the seasons. It can be identical unmanageable to predict precisely where the Doldrums will occur with any meaningful accuracy until a few days before. It is possible for a yacht to be becalmed for days on end within the grasp of this windless sphere. In order to help preserve the arrival time into Punta del Este at the end of Leg 1, the Clipper Race Committee use a mechanism to remove the uncertainty of the ITCZ ( InterTropical Convergence Zone ) or Doldrums and have once again implemented the Doldrums Corridor.

thus what is the Doldrums Corridor ? Deputy Race Director Dale Smyth explains all. “ The Doldrums Corridor is a mechanism that we use to prevent the yachts getting held up for days on end with no wind. The Doldrums is an area of abject pressure which broadly sits just north of the equator and it ’ s an area renowned for very erratic wind wich can be wholly windless over up to a 300 mile span. “ Historically, with the uncertainty of the fleet getting stuck in the Doldrums, it becomes very difficult for us to work out ETAs, which has a huge pink on effect for supporters and the logistics of gang both leaving and joining for late legs of the rush. so, we use the Doldrums Corridor principle, which allows yachts to motor over six degrees of latitude ( 360 Miles ), should they need to. The entire Doldrums Corridor is 10 degrees, from 13 degrees north to 3 degrees north and within this, teams can elect to use their engine and motor-sail for six of those degrees to escape the no wind area. ”

The Course Instructions for Race 2 state that the fleet must pass through a gate which will be at 13°N and between 25°W and 29°W. The corridor ’ second southerly gate will be at 3°N, besides between 25°W and 29°W. This is designated as the ‘ ITCZ/Doldrums Corridor ’. Within this corridor a Skipper and crew can elect to motor-sail for precisely 6° of latitude and for a maximum of 60 hours. All yachts must declare their intention to motor-sail a minimum of three hours before doing so. A yacht is not prohibited from moving either east or west indeed farseeing as they leave through the Southern gate. Dale goes on to say : “ If a team declares that they are going to use their engine, they are not allowed to exceed the six degrees from their originate position, until 60 hours has elapsed ; this is to prevent it becoming a drive race and keeps every yacht on a flat play field. american samoa a lot as people might think, ‘ why are we motoring on a sailing subspecies ? ’, it stops the boats getting trapped for retentive periods of prison term and besides adds an concern tactical element.

“ There are always a distribute of decisions to make and factors to consider when ocean race, the Doldrums Corridor just adds far questions for the teams to consider. Do we need to use our engine ? ; and if so, when and where do we want to enter and exit the corridor ? I know that once the flit has experienced the incredible humidity, heat and frustrations of no weave, they will agree that it is a huge bonus to have the opportunity to tactically get out of that area and behave on racing. ” The Doldrums Corridor is defined by four virtual waypoints ( you can see this on the Race Viewer ) ; To summarize :

• 13°N /25°W in the north-east corner
• 13°N /29°W in the north-west corner
• 3°N /25°W in the south-east corner
• 3°N /29°W in the south-west corner
• Each yacht may elect to motor-sail for 6° of latitude or 360 nautical miles within the Doldrums Corridor.
• Each yacht has 60 hours to complete the 6° of latitude or 360 nautical miles.
• If a yacht completes the 6° of latitude or 360 nautical miles before 60 hours has elapsed they must wait at that position until 60 hours has passed. This is to make it fair for all yachts.
• A yacht can move either east or west so long as it enters through the northern gate and leaves via the southern gate of the Doldrums Corridor.
• All yachts must declare their time of crossing 9°N so that 60 hours elapsed can be calculated. This is because all yachts starting their motor-sail below 9° must cease at 3°N which clearly means they cannot travel the full 6° of latitude.
• Yachts do not have to use their engines if sailing is preferable.

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Category : Maritime