After the battering the fleet had as it rounded Cape Horn yesterday, the lighter winds that the crews are now have as they sail around the southern side of The Falkland Islands is more than welcome. Spirits are rising and grins are back on the faces of the tired crews.

Hatches, which were once closed to prevent an unwelcome torrent of water pouring into the boat, have been opened and the boats are beginning to dry out. The chance of sleep without the boat shaking and bouncing as the crews cling to their bunks is now possible and lying huddled on the floor in a survival suit is no longer necessary as the urgency to get everyone up on deck immediately has become less of a reality.

But this is no time to rest on their laurels, the battle for supremacy in the North Atlantic is on and while the boats are storm battered, and bent, the crews are gathering their strength to take on each other again in the last third of this leg to Rio de Janeiro.

Tonight the fleet is spread over 55 nautical miles from first to fifth place, and everyone has made gains on ABN AMRO ONE (Mike Sanderson), who leads the field. His margin is just 17 miles from Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard), which is averaging the slowest speed in the fleet. Ericsson Racing Team (Neal McDonald) and ABN AMRO TWO (Sebastien Josse) in the south both have better breeze and consequently better speed, sailing three knots faster than Sanderson and his team.

Movistar has almost reached Ushuaia. She has just 30 miles to motor before reaching the safe haven of the harbour and the welcome sight of her shore team standing on the dockside, but the winds of up to 30 knots are hampering her progress.

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