Volvo Ocean Race: Close to the ice edge

On the fourth day of the seventh leg, the VO65 yachts are sailing towards Cape Horn on a south-easterly course in winds of 20 to 25 knots with a speed slightly below that. The American-Danish team Vestas 11th Hour Racing has defended its leading position overnight ahead of the Spanish team Mapfre, which leads the overall standings, and the last stage winners from Simeon Tienpont's team AkzoNobel. They are followed by Bouwe Bekking's Team Brunel and Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team ahead of Turn the Tide on Plastic and Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag.

In her last blog from on board, Scallywag navigator Libby Greenhalgh points out that it's likely to be a fast stage: "It's best to open the Race Village in Itajaí earlier, as the current forecasts have us arriving in Brazil on 4 April. Anything is possible." The first 1000 or so of the 7600 nautical miles that make this leg the longest and toughest of the 13th edition have already been completed.

Dongfeng on-board reporter Martin Keruzore already reported on Tuesday from the dive into the Southern Ocean: "The first albatrosses were there this morning, circling like sentinels in our stern water. They look huge and majestic on the horizon as they watch our course. The deep south has opened its arms wide in anticipation of the fleet. It is ready to let us into its depths and share its long waves and icy winds with us. On board, there is not exactly exuberant joy at this invitation. Moments pass, we talk about it and wonder what the weather will be like in this part of the world with which sailors are so unfamiliar. How will we be treated? One thing is certain: it will be anything but relaxing - but strong and intense. The thermometer will be close to zero degrees and the waves will make the pitch dangerous."