This morning brought a definite smile to the faces of the fourth placed ABN AMRO TWO (Sebastien Josse) crew as Ericsson (Neal McDonald) popped over the horizon. They have been reeling them in ever since. Until tonight, that is.

“It is impressive after so many days at sea that we still have such a close race on our hands. It has certainly lifted our spirits a little, having hauled in Ericsson. The next step it somehow to get past. And stay in front,” writes navigator, Simon Fisher.

Tomorrow is the day set for leaders, ABN AMRO ONE (Mike Sanderson) to turn the corner and set up for the fast run in to Cape Town, and, if they have selected the right place to make the turn, then what a ride it will be.

The positions at 1600 GMT today showed ABN AMRO TWO in third place, but by tonight, Ericsson had fought back to overtake her. Brasil 1 (Torben Grael) is in a solid second position, 42 nautical miles behind, but sailing an easterly course which will put her in a good position once she makes the turn for Cape Town. Her 24 hour run has been 359 nm, against ABN AMRO ONE’s 332 nm, while ABN AMRO TWO sailed the furthest at 353.

Sunergy and Friends have managed a miserly 250nm, but at least the crew was able to have a fresh water wash from rain coursing down the mainsail. Navigator, Campbell Field, reported that three of the crew now smell very nice, but the others are not so good. The large turtle that overtook them a day or so ago has turned out to be a very rare Leatherback turtle of which there are less than 1500 left on this planet. Campbell says that if it overtakes them again, he will take a photograph this time.

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