Yachting: NZer Sanderson heads Volvo race again

CAPE TOWN - New Zealander Mike Sanderson, skippering ABN AMRO One, reclaimed the lead in the Volvo Ocean Race four days into the second leg today.

Team Movistar, under Dutch skipper Bouwe Bekking, had set the early pace after leaving Cape Town on Monday at the start of the 10,000km leg.

In high winds and rough seas as the boats turned towards Melbourne, their ultimate destination, ABN AMRO One found the pace to surge ahead.

They lead American Paul Cayard's Pirates of the Caribbean by 3km with ABN AMRO Two, skippered by Frenchman Sebastien Josse, 14km behind. Movistar are 60km back in fourth.

"The wind has now increased to around 28 knots and our priority now is to keep the boat in one piece as we are reaching speeds of 26-27 knots again downwind," Sanderson said from onboard.

The fleet has already been reduced to five from the original seven. Team Ericsson and Brasil 1 returned to South Africa earlier this week following damage.

- REUTERS