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At the last poll before 1500 hours UTC on Tuesday, ABN AMRO ONE had not gybed, but they did go for three in recent hours, just before 1200, at 1342 and at 1540 and on the last one went for more westing. Data from the current poll shows that the stronger winds are on the wings of the course, with Brasil 1 sailing at 14.6 knots and ABN AMRO TWO sailing at 13.9 knots, while ABN AMRO ONE and Ericsson are both sailing at just over 11.5 knots.

The three chasers have all lost miles on Brasil 1, who seem to be sailing the best strategy for the day. All the boats look to be sailing into less wind, as might be expected as they go further south and in the east the wind seems to be veering more to the north. Brasil 1 has gained around five miles on all the other boats during the day. Other gainers are the ABN AMRO TWO crew who have taken back a mile on the big boys and must be an unwelcome sight for the ABN AMRO ONE crew if they look astern.

Sunergy and Friends have left Porto Santo and are heading across the top of Madeira, shaping to pass the island to the west. Madeira is a high island and leaves a huge wind shadow, so it is to be hoped that Sunergy and Friends make a lot of westing to try to pick up the remnants of the strong north easterlies before they head south. But whatever their strategy, they are likely to have light and shifty winds to contend with for quite a while

At the 1600 poll, positions were as follows: Brasil 1 57 miles ahead of Ericsson, with ABN AMRO ONE next, 70 miles from the leader, ABN AMRO TWO a further four miles back and Sunergy and Friends 429 miles from the leader.

Interestingly, Brasil 1 has a current 24 hour run of 320 miles, ABN AMRO ONE a 24 hour run of 352. It is just that Brasil 1 is sailing a better direction towards the turning gate at Fernando de Noronha and therefore has a shorter distance to the finish. Time for some serious tactical thinking aboard all the boats.

Position Report At 0400 Hours UTC, Wednesday 16 November 2005

Team	Nation	Skipper	Latitude	Longitude	DTF	DTL	DTLC	CMG	SMG	VMG	ETA
Brasil 1	BRA	Torben GRAEL (BRA)	26 04.49N	28 33.40W	5169	0	0	198	13.4	14.3	No Data
Ericsson Racing Team	SWE	Neal MCDONALD (GBR)	26 29.26N	28 50.06W	5191	22	13	197	15.5	14.1	No Data
ABN AMRO ONE	NED	Mike SANDERSON (NZL)	26 39.19N	29 41.32W	5196	27	12	194	15.3	14	No Data
ABN AMRO TWO	NED	Sebastian JOSSE (FRA)	26 44.50N	29 43.51W	5202	33	6	189	14.3	14	No Data
Sunergy and Friends	AUS	Grant WHARINGTON (AUS)	32 16.14N	19 12.50W	5654	485	-19	244	13.3	8.8	No Data
movistar	ESP	Bouwe BEKKING (NED)	37 07.38N	08 31.48W	6157	988	-79	0	0	3	No Data
Pirates of the Caribbean	USA	Paul CAYARD (USA)	38 41.32N	09 24.56W	6213	1044	-79	0	0	2.3	No Data

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