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Ericsson, skippered by Neal MCDONALD (GBR), will score three points to add to their in-port race score of 3.5 and therefore will retain the lead overall with 12.5 points if they manage to finish this leg in second place by holding off Brasil 1 led by Torben GRAEL (BRA) and the young guns skippered by Sebastian JOSSE (FRA) on ABN AMRO TWO, who are racing neck and neck. If Mike SANDERSON's (NZL) ABN AMRO ONE hold on to first they will have a cumulative total of 11.5 points.

Rather than immediately turning from the scoring gate to the southeast, and on a direct course to the finish, the crews will keep their bows pointed almost due south for several days. The plan will be to make as much southerly progress as possible in order to negotiate the more favourable downwind sailing conditions on the western periphery of the South Atlantic high. This is also known as the St. Helena anticyclone after the small British Overseas Territory located in the central South Atlantic Ocean between Angola and Brazil. The centre of this high is often located near St. Helena and lies directly in the path between the scoring gate and the leg finish in Cape Town, South Africa.

Once far enough south, the boats will hope to pick up the stronger westerly winds associated with lows and fontal systems over the far southern reaches of the Atlantic Ocean. These westerly winds will carry them on a speedier path to Cape Town.

Current reports are indicating that the first boat might well finish in Cape Town on 30 November, although Australian entry Sunergy and Friends skippered by Grant WHARINGTON (AUS) could be up to a week behind them. They continue to make reasonable speed, but are still 964 nm adrift from the leading pack.

Position Report At 1000 Hours UTC, 21 November 2005

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