It is a nervous time for Team Telefónica's navigator Andrew CAPE having "rolled the dice" and laid his bet on a course that has placed his team in the lead, but also at one end of a major split in the fleet.
It has been a case of go, stop, go, stop for the frustrated fleet overnight as all six teams race to chase down the same high speed front, but on varied courses now stretching 200 miles across the Indian Ocean.
Frustration is the feeling pulsing through the Volvo Ocean Race fleet this morning as the crews search desperately for a way through a weather front that currently blocks their path.
Team Telefónica snatched victory from CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand to win a thrilling first stage of Leg 2 by one minute and 57 seconds and strengthen their position at the top of the overall leaderboard.
Telefónica remporte ce soir le premier acte de l'étape entre Le Cap et Abu Dhabi. Après plus de 15 jours de course, une minute et 57 secondes le sépare seulement de CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, deuxième !
Team Telefónica and CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand have mutually agreed to drop plans to lodge protest against each other following a nail-biting finish in the first stage of Leg 2.
Skipper Chris NICHOLSON paid tribute to the winners after CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand were pipped to the finish by Team Telefónica in the climax of an epic duel between the two boats.
Franck CAMMAS has vowed his Groupama sailing team will come back stronger in the next phase of the Volvo Ocean Race after missing out on a top-three position in the first stage of Leg 2.
C'était une arrivée toute en douceur, au petit matin de l'océan Indien. Groupama sailing team a franchi la ligne d'arrivée du port secret à 02h04''19' UTC aujourd'hui. Sur les visages de l'équipage français, des sourires de soulagement malgré une quatrième place qui n'est pas idéale.
Hearts have been in mouths today as five multimillion dollar Volvo Open 70s were hoisted 40 feet in the air and onto a ship that is expected to begin transporting them to the start of the second stage of Leg 2 tomorrow.
(Après 10 jours de course, Groupama sailing team a pris la tête de cette deuxième étape. Une progression dûe à une stratégie éclairée au sud du front, et à un décalage avantageux à l'est de la flotte.
Overall race leaders Team Telefónica stole the Leg 2 lead from Groupama sailing team on Friday after carving an unusually hasty passage through the Doldrums.
There was no prospect of a festive truce for the Volvo Ocean Race teams on Sunday as CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand battled to hold on to their lead in the face of a Christmas Day fightback from Team Telefónica.