Neck and neck

Atlantic three-way match race taking place at front of Volvo fleet

Positions at 1000

	Yacht	Lat	Lon	DTF	DTL	DTL-C	SMG	PO
1	Tyco	12 33.96S	035 43.60W	3697	0	0	10.4	26
2	Assa Abloy	12 34.76S	035 42.56W	3697	0	0	10.3	27
3	illbruck	12 35.28S	035 42.84W	3698	1	1	10.3	35
4	Amer One	12 51.24S	035 43.60W	3714	17	9	9	27
5	Amer Too	12 51.88S	035 41.80W	3714	17	7	9.3	11
6	djuice	12 57.36S	035 44.92W	3720	23	2	10.2	20
7	News Corp	12 51.68S	036 18.20W	3723	26	6	9.6	21
8	SEB	13 09.12S	035 39.24W	3730	33	1	10.2	13

Yesterday and overnight a three way match race has been taking place at the front of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet between Assa Abloy, Tyco and illbruckas the boats race north, straight lining it in 10-15 knot easterly winds en route to Recife. Only in the last few hours has illbruck broken away and is heading slightly east.

It is perhaps this intense tussle which has caused the three boats to put distance slowly on both the Amer Sports boats over the last few hours.

Did we says Amer Sports boats? For it is true - now they are out of the horrors of the Southern Ocean Lisa McDonald's team seem to be coming good and are hanging in there in fifth place, just two miles behind Grant Dalton and his team and, significantly, more than 10 miles ahead of djuice and SEB who have dropped astern. News Corp remains in the west doing her own thing.

At present navigators are working hard to establish the best lane round Recife - the toss up is between the shortest route going right into the beach or staying offshore where there should be more breeze but sailing more miles.

See reports from the boats on the next pages...

Below - flat water, brilliant sunshine, enough breeze and boats either side of you to race against... what could be better? The illbruck team race up to the Equator