Marcel van Triest, navigator onboard the Swedish Volvo Ocean Race yacht SEB, left the boat approximately 10 miles before Eclipse Island to return home due to the death of a close family member. However, he is expected to return for the third leg of the race due to start on 26 December.

SEB is currently leading the tacking battle as the fleet heads south but with the wind predicted to shift to the south-west and fill in across the Great Australian Bight, the positions are likely to change within the next few hours.

Position Report, Day 18, 0358 GMT

1 TSEB

2 NEWS (5 miles from leader)

3 AART (6 miles from leader)

4 ILBK (8 miles from leader)

5 DJCE (25 miles from leader)

6 AONE (56 miles from leader)

7 ATOO (163 miles from leader)

8 TYCO (RTD)