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17 November 2005, 10:54 am

Lead Changes Hands As 'Black Betty' Picks Up Her Skirts

Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006

'Black Betty', as the crew of ABN AMRO ONE (NED) affectionately refer to their black Volvo 70, is romping along having assumed the lead in leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race. Averaging over one knot faster in the last six hour period, she has extend her advantage to a comforting, but not comfortable, 20 nm over yesterday's front runner Brasil 1. Her average 24 hour speed is a sparkling 16.8 knots against Brasil 1's 14.9, leading to a 24 hour run of 402 nm against Brasil 1's 358.

The leading four are now 274 nm north of the Cape Verde Islands in an east to west split of 55 nm. Neal MCDONALD's (GBR) Ericsson (SWE) has lost out overnight and although she is hanging on to third place, she is now 29 nm adrift, with ABN AMRO TWO (NED) skippered by Sebastien JOSSE (FRA) on her hip just two nautical miles behind and closing.

Australian entry Sunergy and Friends skippered by Grant WHARINGTON (AUS) are back in the race and trying something different. They clearly will not catch the leaders by following in their wake. The four boats ahead are further south and sailing in different wind conditions. 'We're not rolling the dice on this one,' wrote navigator Campbell FIELD, 'just be aware that we have to be a little more clever.'

History has proven that a 500 or 600 nm deficit is not a disaster when you have around 5,000 nm to go, and this thought is keeping Sunergy and Friends positive and focussed.

Position Report At 1000 Hours UTC, Thursday 17 November 2005

Team	Nation	Skipper	Latitude	Longitude	DTF	DTL	DTLC	CMG	SMG	VMG	ETA
ABN AMRO ONE	NED	Mike SANDERSON (NZL)	18 37.25N	30 30.13W	4712	0	0	183	15.5	14.6	No Data
Brasil 1	BRA	Torben GRAEL (BRA)	18 51.24N	29 34.00W	4732	20	-5	193	14.7	14.4	No Data
Ericsson Racing Team	SWE	Neal MCDONALD (GBR)	19 02.52N	29 50.43W	4741	29	-11	177	13.8	14.3	No Data
ABN AMRO TWO	NED	Sebastian JOSSE (FRA)	19 07.47N	30 24.20W	4743	31	-6	184	14.4	14.3	No Data
Sunergy and Friends	AUS	Grant WHARINGTON (AUS)	28 06.43N	24 33.43W	5330	618	-43	240	11.7	9.3	No Data
movistar	ESP	Bouwe BEKKING (NED)	37 07.38N	08 31.48W	6157	1445	-93	0	0	2.2	No Data
Pirates of the Caribbean	USA	Paul CAYARD (USA)	38 41.32N	09 24.56W	6213	1501	-93	0	0	1.7	No Data