The leading five yachts have split into two distinct groups. Tyco, ASSA ABLOY and Team News Corp, pursued by Amer Sport Too, remain in the west while Amer Sports One and illbruck duel in the east, with djuice and SEB, who have both encountered headboard track damage, following their wake.

Tyco skipper Kevin Shoebridge explained the tactics of the fleet. “The tricky decision last night was how far to go into the front and what wind direction to wait for before tacking. This will obviously have some bearing on positions today. Illbruck was the first to tack as soon as the front approached, we tacked nearly an hour later. The view is a little different this morning with ASSA ABLOY one mile to leeward and Team News Corp a few miles back on our starboard quarter. Our old running mates illbruck and Dalts (Amer Sports One) are 20 miles to leeward. Interesting times once again.”

From Amer Sports One, Grant Dalton believes the fleet will congregate again once more before splitting to tackle the doldrums. “The whole fleet are now aiming for Madeira and we will (the fleet) sort it out after that,” said Dalton.

Life has taken a turn for better onboard with boat and crews drying, tidying and repairing after four days of upwind sailing. “We have come through the headwinds now, we’re now reaching finally. At the moment we have ten knots (of breeze) from the west. The barometer (barometric pressure) in the nav (navigation) station is going up and the sun is coming out. These boats aren’t set up for comfort bashing to windward. It’s been difficult to cook and difficult to want to eat and difficult sleep. The guys have stood up well. We’ll be able to tidy the boat up now, it looks like a bombsite at the moment,” added Dalton.

Results update (Day 6, 28 September 10.00 GMT)

1st ILBK

2nd AART

3rd TYCO

5th NEWS

6th TSEB

7th DJCE

8th ATOO