I am pretty surprised at how spread out the leaders are. Konica Minolta is 32 miles off of the Rhumb Line, Wild Oats is right on it, and the others are pretty much spread out between them. I would have thought that with all of the "rock stars" and all of the equipment & data they have available they would be more closely bunched together. I know everyone's looking for an edge but I thought the data available to them would keep them closer together.
Forcasting is not an exact science as we all know, but also, I expect that the boats have slightly different performance profiles as well - some will go better 1 degree more off the wind than others (and be able to fly their kites/code 1's etc) slightly earlier etc.
I'm assuming that the differance is partly what the tactitions think the wind will do and so will dictate what sails thay can fly (and so the VMG thay can make). It will also be factored my how close the oppo is. Are the boats that they should be in front of them already behind (i.e. no-one is playing catch up). Do they have boats to windward of them in a "passing lane", do they need to sail slightly higher to improve VMG over the rhumb line. Do they have a boat ahead that they
should be ahead off (and so need to create a passing lane).
