Jez Fanstone and the crew of News Corp had their first win in the Volvo Ocean Race early this morning. They finished the sixth leg from Miami to Baltimore less than three miles ahead of Amer Sports One and Assa Abloy.

The three leading boats got ahead of illbruck two days ago, in the early stages of this three-day leg, and since then have been jousting with each other. Grant Dalton’s Amer Sports One was always a threat, but News Corp found that extra bit of wind yesterday afternoon to draw ahead and kept it as they gybed downwind to the finish under main and spinnaker.

It was said to have been a particularly sweet victory for former co-skipper Ross Field, who resigned from the crew in Miami to go ashore as campaign director. However, the win is also a vindication of the skills of Fanstone and his crew.

Race leaders illbruck, meanwhile, have had to settle for an unaccustomed 4th place.