The aim around the islands is to stay far enough away from shore to avoid getting caught in windless zones but at the same extending the trajectory as little as possible.

The prevailing wind is often transformed as an island is passed, especially so if the island is hilly like Sao Miguel.

Winds around the island may become more irregular and if the yacht spends too much time on the leeward side (ie in the shelter of the land) they can become very mild indeed, even though it may be blowing a gale out to sea.

The aim around the islands is therefore to find the optimum distance to go around them without getting caught in windless zones and without extending the trajectory unnecessarily. With an average speed touching twenty knots, two or three hours spent in mild winds can prove impossible to make up afterwards.

>> More Challenge Mondial information from the BBC Weather Centre