Pressure on Kostecki and illbruck's lead...

...as Tyco and Assa Abloy close and Amer Sports Too and djuice continue battle at the back

Illbruck was lucky that the wind backed slightly to the east, giving them a wind-angle that suits the downwind sails that are left on the boat after the loss of the light air gennaker yesterday. Still, Tyco and ASSA ABLOY were able to close the gap to just 21 miles, which equals less than two hours sailing in the current conditions.

ASSA ABLOY and Tyco are currently 23 miles east of San Salvador, the island where Columbus is said to have landed more than 500 years ago when discovering America. Their sailing is completely synchronised, like in ballet, gybing at the very same moment. Both yachts are still neck and neck in hot pursuit of illbruck. As the wind is forecast to become light and straight from astern after entering the Providence Channel, they will see their chance to roll over illbruck.

After choosing different lanes this morning when they split tacks, djuice and Amer Sports Too met again. They are both 536 miles from Miami and will put all they can into coming out of this battle ahead of the other competitor.

Further gains have been made by News Corp in conditions, where frequent clouds changed the wind conditions. They left Amer Sports One behind and started challenging SEB, cutting away 10 miles of SEB’s lead and leaving them only seven miles in front.

Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 17, 1536 GMT