Having passed Poor Knights Island, New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf is opening in front of Assa Abloy, the leading boat in the VOR. As the breeze is blowing with steady 12 knots parallel to the New Zealand coast, they have to gybe downwind to achieve the fastest sailing angles.

Amer Sports One is holding the distance to Assa Abloy as well as to her next rivals, the trio of illbruck, News Corp and Tyco. They are all trying hard to use the cover of darkness to claim third postion over the finish line.

Meanwhile djuice has passed the two capes as well and is on her way across the Great Exhibition Bay in sixth position. Amer Sports Too is currently 380 miles from Cape Reinga, advancing with up to 20 knots in a strong westerly breeze.

Position Report, Day 9, 0954 GMT

1 AART

2 AONE (21 miles from leader)

3 ILBK (41 miles from leader)

4 NEWS (42 miles from leader)

5 TYCO (43 miles from leader)

6 DJCE (84 miles from leader)

7 ATOO (518 miles from leader)

8 TSEB (RTD)