Yachting: ABN Amro One takes 22-mile lead

Mike Sanderson's ABN Amro One had a 22 nautical mile lead over Pirates of the Caribbean last night in the seventh leg of the round-the-world yacht race from New York to Portsmouth.

The relentless slog of upwind sailing has continued with the winds up to 25 knots. The fleet has split, with Brasil 1 Ericsson and Brunel going offshore, ABN Amro One staying inshore and the others positioned in between.

ABN Amro One were 2518 nautical miles from the finish. Little separated Ericsson, Brasil 1 and ABN Amro Two, who were battling it out for third 30 miles behind the leader.