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23 November 2005, 11:12 am

Pay Day On Hold For ABN AMRO ONE

Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006

The next few hours are going to be difficult for ABN AMRO ONE (NED) and Mike SANDERSON (NZL), the current leaders of leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race, as they continue their drive south in search of the strong westerlies. They are now sailing towards a light wind band, which will slow them down, allowing the chasing pack to close the margin considerably.

ABN AMRO ONE is approximately 320 nautical miles off the coast of Brazil, 652 nm north of Rio de Janeiro which features as a stopover port later in the race.

Now only 49 nm behind ABN ARMO ONE and closing quickly is the Torben GRAEL (BRA), led Brasil 1 who have reduced the deficit to just 49 nm, achieving a higher 24 hour run (329nm) than ABN AMRO ONE (322) and sailing faster.

GRAEL has kept his easterly position approximately 40 nm east ABN AMRO TWO and Sebastien JOSSE (FRA) and Neal MCDONALD's (GBR) Ericsson skippered, who is sandwiched between them. Australian entry Sunergy and Friends, skippered by Grant WHARINGTON (AUS), has gained 14 nm in the last six hours, but are now out of touch with the rest of the fleet.

Will ABN AMRO ONE run into a brick wall, allowing the rest of the fleet to concertina together? The pattern will emerge throughout today.

Position Report At 1000 Hours UTC, 23 November 2005

Team	Nation	Skipper	Latitude	Longitude	DTF	DTL	DTLC	CMG	SMG	VMG	ETA
ABN AMRO ONE	NED	Mike SANDERSON (NZL)	16 49.03S	33 32.31W	2965	0	0	180	14.9	13.2	02/12/2005
Brasil 1	BRA	Torben GRAEL (BRA)	13 49.25S	32 36.24W	3014	49	9	178	16.3	13	03/12/2005
Ericsson Racing Team	SWE	Neal MCDONALD (GBR)	13 56.07S	33 12.47W	3040	75	-2	183	15	12.9	03/12/2005
ABN AMRO TWO	NED	Sebastian JOSSE (FRA)	13 48.20S	33 19.25W	3049	84	-3	186	15.8	12.9	03/12/2005
Sunergy and Friends	AUS	Grant WHARINGTON (AUS)	04 52.09N	30 05.53W	3901	936	14	189	10.3	9.6	10/12/2005
movistar	ESP	Bouwe BEKKING (NED)	37 07.38N	08 31.48W	No Data	No Data	No Data	No Data	No Data	No Data	No Data
Pirates of the Caribbean	USA	Paul CAYARD (USA)	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF	DNF