PRB under threat again

Golding closes to within 200 miles of lead again, as Moloney arrives in Rio

Positions at 0400GMT

Pos	Boat	DTF	DTL	VMG	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	Spd	Crs	24 hr
							Instant		4hr aver		run
1	PRB	1170.0	0.0	10.2	37 29.12' N	25 03.48' W	12.0	52	11.8	36.0	314.3
2	BONDUELLE	1292.3	122.4	14.6	34 36.40' N	25 38.08' W	15.9	27	16.0	25.0	325.9
3	ECOVER	1369.3	199.3	14.6	33 46.40' N	26 48.84' W	14.3	21	15.6	38.0	330.4
4	TEMENOS	2342.1	1172.1	7.6	16 13.20' N	31 06.28' W	10.1	352	9.6	3.0	210.2
5	VMI	2375.8	1205.9	8.8	15 23.76' N	30 46.16' W	10.0	16	9.9	346.0	195.6
6	VIRBAC-PAPREC	3780.3	2610.3	10.9	10 09.32' S	30 10.32' W	11.0	4	11.4	359.0	248.8
7	ARCELOR DUNKERQUE	4533.3	3363.3	12.1	21 52.60' S	34 52.96' W	9.3	36	13.4	32.0	314.4
8	HELLOMOTO	4756.8	3586.9	12.6	25 51.56' S	34 45.52' W	12.1	37	13.9	29.0	281.4
9	OCEAN PLANET	5258.2	4088.3	6.3	33 27.64' S	38 51.16' W	4.1	44	8.7	55.0	182.1
10	ROXY	6750.6	5580.6	8.1	51 46.48' S	64 14.96' W	9.2	2	8.9	8.0	182.8
11	AKENA VERANDAS	7072.9	5902.9	8.8	56 08.12' S	68 52.72' W	9.3	90	10.4	93.0	253.7
12	BENEFIC	7538.4	6368.5	11.7	54 05.76' S	82 04.52' W	11.8	103	11.4	119.0	237.7
ABD	HUGO BOSS
ABD	PRO-FORM
ABD	SILL ET VEOLIA
ABD	VM MATERIAUX
NL	MAX HAVELAAR BEST WESTERN
ABD	SKANDIA
ABD	UUDS
ABD	BROTHER

First apologies - no map today (we're en route to Qatar and have left the MaxSea dongle at home...) The leaders are now just south of the Azores.

PRB's advantage yesterday over Bonduelle and Ecover from sailing in stronger southerlies appears to have run out now and the last four hours show both Bonduelle and Ecover storming along both making 14.6 knots VMG to the finish compared to PRB's 10.2.

Since yesterday morning the weather between here and the finish has changed. The high pressure system to the west of Ireland is now no longer moving southeast over the UK and dissipating over France on Tuesday. Now the high appears to be shifting slowly south before moving east and dissipating around Thursday. As a result the boats will be on the wind pretty much once they pass the Azores all the way to the finish. This is good news for Mike Golding potentially, who's Open 60 Ecover has the best upwind potential of the top three boats. The question is - is it good enough and is there enough distance between here and the finish to pull off the unthinkable?

Last night Vincent Riou reported 35 knot winds and a bumpy sea. If the boats have to endure a final upwind stint then the race may well come down to who has been looking after their boat best. Riou has said that he is having to choose between a fast pace and keeping his boat together.

Moloney reaches Rio

Just as dark descended on a rainy Rio de Janeiro last night, Nick Moloney brought Skandia in to dock at the Marina da Gloria. After casting off the tow lines from the Brazilian Navy vessel that had so professionally assisted Moloney in the final part of the operation, he made his own way under engine in to the marina. On entering the port he was met by a small organised team to assist him with the final operation - which included round the world sailor Guillermo Altadil, Mini-Transat sailor Yves Niort and Brazilian based Kiwi Don ‘Jawsie’ Wright. A welcome to Rio beer and steak brought Moloney’s feet back to earth!

This concluded, albeit prematurely, Moloney's first attempt at the Vendée Globe after 80 days of racing in what is surely the toughest and most unforgiving sailing event. Moloney never questioned the boat's ability to make it round, he was only concerned that he could not make it round mentally, fighting the demons of isolation, exhaustion and fear. The keel detached itself from Skandia on Tuesday morning and the shock that Moloney's race was over reverberated through the team, sponsors, family and friends. But the priority was Moloney's safe return which was accomplished last night.

Principal title sponsor, Skandia, supported by the combined efforts of three leading international fund management companies, Gartmore Investment Managers, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and Invesco Perpetual, were kept fully informed of the situation at all times and have maintained their support throughout. Nick's project represented a unique sponsorship effort that teamed up title sponsor Skandia, with three fund management companies to provide the necessary finance to get Nick to the start line of the Vendée Globe as the Skandia MultiManager project. The Vendée campaign effectively came to an end with the keel failure exactly a year to the day from the date that Skandia announced that they were on board to back Nick in his goal. By May 2004, the other partners had fallen into place to secure his entry into this famous race. Although for Nick, the dream began as a child and he has now pursued this particular dream as far as he can.

“This has been such an amazing team effort” commented a still quite exhausted Moloney, from a grey drizzly Rio...”from friends and family, the shore and office team, right through to the family of Offshore Challenges Partners, and of course in particular the Skandia MultiManager sponsors. There are so many people that have helped me over the past few years to get to the start line, and take on this massive challenge, the Vendée Globe. I really hope that people don’t feel that I’ve let them down. I have certainly done the best I could, and I guess it just wasn’t meant to be this time. Thank you guys for living this one with me, and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible as soon as possible!”

Andre Oszmann, Global Marketing Director for Skandia, has backed Moloney all the way; “After the initial disappointment of Nick's premature termination of the Vendée Globe 2004/05 due to the failure of Skandia's keel, we are obviously relieved that Nick is safe and well and the boat is now docked in Rio. We have been hugely impressed with Nick's commitment and professionalism, he has proven his determination over and over again in the pursuit of his dreams and also in his dedication to helping others enjoy the sport of sailing. Skandia is extremely proud to be associated with Nick and his sailing career, we are sure that he will overcome this disappointment to continue his search for new challenges."

With only 5,000 miles left to go on the solo round the world course, it was his first participation in the race and formed part of his long-held dream to complete 3 big round the world sailing goals - of crewed round the world [1997-98 Whitbread on board Toshiba], fastest non-stop round the world [2002 Jules Verne Trophy on board Orange] and, finally, his ultimate goal of solo, non-stop around the world.

Thousands of messages of support and encouragement have been received since the loss of Skandia's keel as friends and supporters around the globe share in Nick's disappointment, but also relief, of bringing both boat and skipper safely back to land.

Moloney and the Offshore Challenges Support team will now manage the careful de-masting and de-keeling (what is left of it, about 0.5metre), and prepare Skandia to be shipped back to Cowes, England where she will be prepared for the 2005 IMOCA racing season.