With the VO60 fleet beating out towards Colville just to the south of Great Barrier Island, places have been changing after Tyco’s early lead off the start line and round the first two turning marks, and the first six boats are still only separated by less than a mile.

With two more points to pass, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet will then head on into the Southern Ocean for the second time in the race, on this leg 4 to Rio de Janeiro (total distance of 6,700 nautical miles). For the last few days, the weather pattern has given light winds and sea breezes and the boats are battling their way through this, in order to get south as fast as possible to hook into the fast moving low pressure systems of the Southern Ocean.

Position Report, Day 1, 0358 GMT

1 NEWS

2 TYCO

3 TSEB (one mile behind leader)

4 DJCE (one mile behind leader)

5 AONE (one mile behind leader)

6 AART (one mile behind leader)

7 ILBK (two miles behind leader)

8 ATOO (three miles behind leader)