Twenty Hours to Zero

Bowling along in the southeast trade winds, the leading five yachts in the Volvo Ocean Race will cross the equator within the next 20 hours.

The overall positions remain the same as 04.00hrs GMT, although illbruck’s lead over ASSA ABLOY has been reduced from thirteen to seven miles.

Should the fleet maintain their present speed, they will round the waypoint of Ilha de Fernando Noronha, off Brazil, twenty-four hours later where the first real pecking order of the race will be seen.

The only possible upset over the next two days, weather wise, will be if the current south east breeze shifts and heads the fleet, forcing them to put in a costly tack to clear the island. The brave crews may decide to bear off a few degrees, gaining speed in the short term but losing more miles should the shift come through.

The southerly sprint between Noronha and Ilha Trindade 1010 miles away will provide the first real comparisons of pure boat speed between the Bruce Farr designs of illbruck, ASSA ABLOY, Tyco and News Corp against Amer Sports One from the drawing board of Mani Frers.

However, damaged sail wardrobes could tarnish the results after some spinnakers, such as the vital downwind Code 3 on Amer Sports One, which did not survive the sudden squalls in the Doldrums. The onboard sailmakers are working overtime down below to stick and stitch sails back into a useable shape and strength.

Volvo Ocean Race Position Report Leg One Day 17, 10.00hrs GMT:

PSYachtLatitudeLongitudeDTLCMGSMGTFHRDTLDTL-CETAPO
1ILBK04 01.60N030 21.80W0415419808.5261000.025-Oct-018
2AART04 09.92N030 24.96W0416120609.7220701.025-Oct-017
3NEWS04 23.92N030 18.28W0417619809.32122200.725-Oct-016
4TYCO04 39.96N030 19.84W0419120309.42003700.825-Oct-015
5AONE04 46.68N030 15.88W0419920409.32034500.525-Oct-014
6ATOO06 34.60N029 51.80W0430919906.3173155-02.326-Oct-013
7TSEB06 50.40N025 33.12W0442819704.0122274-04.926-Oct-012
8DJCE08 09.44N027 16.68W0444919307.1139295-01.626-Oct-011