12 February 2006 - Leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race kicked off today and the fleet set sail on a 1,450 nautical miles sprint to Wellington, New Zealand. The Ericsson Racing Team got off to a good start and is currently headed out of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, looking to catch a swift ride across the Tasman Sea.

Sailors bid an emotional farewell to loved ones this morning before cutting their lines and heading out into Port Phillip Bay. Thousands of spectators took to the water for the start of the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race; a short sprint across the Tasman Sea to Wellington, New Zealand.

The start line for leg three was positioned right off the Melbourne waterfront at Station Pier, in front of crowds of spectators on the shore. Ericsson Racing Team got off to a good start in light winds, behind Pirates of the Caribbean and Brasil 1. From then on it was a game of cat and mouse with all boats looking for the nearest patch of breeze.

Ericsson charged off down the middle of the course with a powerful new gennaker. After being covered by ABN Amro One for a short while, they managed to get away, chasing Brasil 1 in second place before briefly taking the lead.

After the fast and eventful start, the six Volvo Open 70s ended up parked up some seven miles before the first mark of course, located in Mornington on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay. The sea breeze finally filled in by 3:30 pm. Well centred and in a controlling position, Ericsson was one of the first boats to take profit of this new situation, together with movistar and Brasil 1.

Later on this afternoon, the six yachts will sail out of the bay and into the Bass Strait. As Ericsson Racing Team meteorologist Chris Tibbs explains, a cold front is expected to arrive around midnight tonight, bringing 20-25 knots of wind, with the occasional 30 knots:

“The speed of the cold front across the Tasman will be the most crucial part of this leg. If Ericsson can stay in behind the cold front then they will get a magic carpet ride most of the way to Wellington. All the teams will be going flat out tonight in order to get east as quickly as possible and hang on to the cold front - they are not going to be shy.”

If the teams have the fast ride they expect, the yachts could arrive in Wellington anytime from Thursday morning (16 February), after just four days at sea. Wellington is a Pit Stop, and all the boats will re-start to head to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Horn on Sunday 19 February. No assistance whatsoever will be allowed during the Pit Stop. Should any team wish to make repairs or embark new equipment, they will incur a two hour penalty.

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