Kingfisher loses lead to Sill...

Race favourite Sill back in front of the EDS Atlantic Challenge

After a day of constant sail changing the EDS Atlantic Challenge fleet have finally reached a constant patch of wind, currently around 15 knots. At 0800 this morning the three leaders were all within four miles of each other, with Sill, the most easterly of the bunch, now leading the fleet north towards Cuxhaven.

With hours of fickle conditions it has been crucial for the boats to avoid the windless zones found all along the English Channel. At one point in the early hours of the morning Kingfisher resorted to anchoring having fallen in to one of these holes. It was at this point that Sill, now holding a three mile lead over Ecover, managed to sneak ahead when they took advantage of the difficulties involved with anchoring in 60m of water.

However, it is Mike Golding's Ecover that is currently looking best positioned to challenge the lead spot, as the most westerly positioned of the leading bunch. In this morning's radio call Golding commented, "we're just about laying the mark, while trying to keep the speed on".

Nick Moloney, co-skipper of Kingfisher, summed up their current position as "reasonable". Kingfisher, currently sandwiched between the top two boats, is potentially in the best position. "It's a drag race now, with everyone on the rail," he said. When the leading boats begin to converge as they near the finish the boat in the middle is more than likely to pull ahead of at least one of it's nearby rivals.

The boats, currently sailing closer to the wind than they are designed for, are now eagerly awaiting the next position update.

Comments from live radio call this morning with the EDS Atlantic Challenge Press Office, see there website for more details.