The short sprint from Baltimore to New York is keeping the Volvo Ocean Race crews on deck and lacking in sleep. With only 75 miles to go before reaching the Ambrose lighthouse, leading yacht ABN AMRO has had a tough time in the last 36 hours. They are currently 25 miles offshore, just north of Delaware heading towards Barnegat Bay, with wind speeds varying wildly from between 23 and 32 knots, but wind now dropping significantly in the last six hours indicating a slow crawl towards the bright lights of New York.

It was a bumpy first night last night, and skipper Mike Sanderson has not slept yet, such is his desire to wrack up maximum points for this leg. “Somehow it would help make the inshore race in Baltimore, where we can sixth out of seven, just that little bit better,” he says.

Sanderson reported gusts of over 40 knots and the crew shortened sail last night to a mainsail with three reefs and a number four jib. Even that combination was a little too much at times. “Driving the boat was just a nightmare,” says Sanderson. “There was this icy sleet that was hitting the bare skin of your face like small sharp rocks, the boat was getting thrown around like clothes in a washing machine as the waves got bigger and bigger.”

Tonight, with just 93 miles to go before crossing the finish line in the Hudson River, speeds are dropping as the wind goes light, giving the chasing Farr Yacht Design boats a chance to show their true colours.

Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard) has moved up to second position, just 11 miles behind ABN AMRO ONE. Not something that will please Mike Sanderson, especially as movistar (Bouwe Bekking) has gained three miles and is now level pegging with the Pirates, pushing Ericsson (Neal McDonald) back to fourth. The last three places remain unchanged, with backmarker ABN AMRO TWO (Sebastien Josse) 32 miles behind the leader. Based on current speeds, the first boat is predicted to arrive in New York early tomorrow morning, local time.

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