Leg 3 The Ocean Race Cape Town - Itajai. 2 Boats Damaged. From Fresh to Frightening in Tower Bay.

IMOCA crews face a big early decision as they take on the longest leg in the history of The Ocean Race
The longest stage in the 50-year history of The Ocean Race – 12,750 nautical miles from Cape Town in South Africa to Itajai in Brazil – starts today (SUN) with a big decision for navigators and skippers.
The key question is whether to stay close to the shore going past the Cape of Good Hope, or head further south – or even southwest – in the hunt for bigger breeze and the first of the westerlies that will take the five IMOCAs east towards Australia.

Christian Dumard, the official weather consultant for The Ocean Race, says if one crew decides to head south, the others may well follow suit for fear of missing a trick. He says the leg will start with strong upwind conditions on Sunday evening, then there is the possibility of a split.