So near yet so far

There's still plenty of work for the Volvo fleet to do before the finish of leg eight

Positions at 04.00 GMT 29 May 2002 .

		Latitude	Longitude	DTF	SMG	DTL	DTL-C	PO
1	Assa Abloy	58 04.40N	008 06.84E	140	6.7	0	0	49
2	illbruck	58 04.44N	008 05.68E	141	6.7	1	0	56
3	Tyco	58 03.16N	008 05.56E	142	6.6	2	1	39
4	News	58 02.84N	008 04.16E	142	6.5	2	0	39
5	Amer One	58 02.72N	008 01.20E	144	7.6	4	-2	40
6	SEB	58 01.52N	007 58.56E	145	6.2	5	1	29
7	djuice	57 45.68N	007 51.64E	160	9	20	-7	25
8	Amer Too	56 32.16N	005 56.72E	256	11.4	116	-14	11

"We have nearly completed three full days of leg eight and it is shaping up to be the closest leg yet," reports Kevin Shoebridge from aboard Tyco. "Yesterday afternoon saw the front six boats all within a one-mile radius, looked more like a 20-mile fleet race than an ocean race."

The leaders are currently close tacking off the island strewn coast of Norway with twenty six nautical miles still to go to the lighthouse waypoint at Arendal.

Though Assa Abloy continues to lead, her advantage is a tenuous one. illbruck, Tyco and News Corp are breathing down her neck with Amer Sports One and SEB both ready to pounce if it all turns to custard at the end.

With the wind now firmly into the northeast and somewhat stronger then expected the penultimate section of the leg has turned once again into a beat. With the leaders all in sight of one another the opportunities for passing are limited. Once around the Island Waypoint at Arendal things will change again with a reach in decent breeze for at least the first part of the trip to Gothenburg.

As is so often the case at the end of a leg, things are not as simple as they seem with the wind forecast to die as the fleet approaches the finish. And yet there is so much to play for. Assa Abloy must win the leg if they are to keep open even a mathematical possibility of winning the race overall. Unless they can improve their position by at least two places, Amer Sports One are destined to finish no higher than third. Perversely, the boat with the most to gain is also under the least pressure. A leg win for illbruck would see the race wrapped up with a leg to spare.

Despite the undoubted pressure for those behind, no one has given up. Roger Nilson sums up the mood well from aboard Amer Sports One."Coming out from the island tomorrow, we expect a beat into Gothenburg," he says. "Another situation when we could have a chance to split with the leaders. We keep our fingers crossed."

Tyco skipper Kevin Shoebridge agrees. "Code zeros will come into play later today. It remains to be seen what conditions we will have for the final 100 miles from Norway to Gothenburg. But whatever they are will have a large impact on who comes in first. We are all within striking distance of the lead and all capable of pulling this one off."


Champagne sailing for Assa Abloy

Page two.... An e-mail from John Kostecki aboard illbruck