illbruck stretches lead

Latest positions show rich getting richer in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet

Once again the race leader, this time illbruck, has managed to stretch her lead over all seven yachts. The gains are substantial and range from eight miles over Tyco to almost 40 miles in the case of Amer Sports Too over the last six hours.

The reason for the gains can be found in the weather pattern. As the yachts advance to the south, the wind is picking up, which means that generally the yacht in front will accelerate earlier than the following one. In the case of Amer Sports Too, Team SEB and djuice dragons, they are still in the influence of the doldrums with extremely variable conditions. Team SEB had winds from the northwest for most of the last six hours.

As the wind strength will stabilise over the next days, the yachts will reveal their true potential in reaching conditions. Interesting will be, how the Mani Frers designed and Grant Dalton skippered Amer Sports One performs against the other yachts from the drawing board of Farr Yacht Design.

Illbruck has to cover little more than 200 miles to the equator and 400 to the next waypoint, the tropical island of Fernando de Noronha.

Positions at 1600hrs Tuesday 9 Oct.