Gale force forecast forces Leg 4 split

[iomkiwi]

Gale force forecast forces Leg 4 splitVolvo Ocean Race organisers will split Leg 4 into two stages and hold the six boats in Sanya after Sunday's leg start to allow enough time for dangerous conditions to clear, with fears that waves of up to eight metres could wreak havoc with the fleet.Meanwhile thousands of armchair sailors will carry on as normal into the gale force winds.
I am one of those - sailing three boats in two different versions of the round the world race.
The Sailonline race is for the more serious sailor, weather is the same as the actual weather in the area and changes constantly just like real weather - there will be around 1000 sailors in this race.
If you want to follow my progress in the race you can do so on Google Earth here. My boat name is the same as my username here. (good luck finding me )
SOL Google Earth
The second race (VORG) run in conjunction with the organisers of the real race is a mass market game with well in excess of 100000 boats in the race. The weather in this race, while still based on real weather in the area, only updates every 12 hours. The only way to follow me in this race is to sign up for the race yourself - my 2 boats in here also have the same name as the other race.
The VORG game starts at 0600UTC (7pm our time) today and the SOL game starts at 0700UTC (8pm), wish me luck while I'm battling those 8m waves for the next few days. 

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[gabba]

I'll be there with you on the VORG again. It's always a good challenge and I'd encourage anyone who is slightly interested to sign up and have a go. Lets see who can be first into Auckland!!!

Under the Volvo Ocean Race Game, you can find me listed as SweetSour.

http://www.volvooceanracegame.com/

I have three boats. To simulate the effect of waves generated by 40knot winds I'll be strapped into my  chair while my 5yo spins me aound in circles. Break out the sea legs!

[iomkiwi]

We will require video of that

[iomkiwi]

I should be finished the SOL race sometime tomorrow morning, currently sailing past my place just north of the Bay of Islands in 65th place.
Race is very close between the top two boats - less than 1/4 of a mile between them after racing for 5200nm.

I think the real boats are a couple of hundred miles behind me.