By JULIE ASH
The race is on in the final stages of the second leg of the round-the-world race.
The front six boats, illbruck, SEB, News Corp, Assa Abloy, Amer Sports One and djuice, have all paired off into three matchracing heats.
Eleven nautical miles separated illbruck and SEB last night. News
Corp and Assa Abloy were 16 miles apart.
Amer Sports One held a four-mile lead over djuice, but was 104 miles behind illbruck, which is expected to reach Sydney tonight or early tomorrow.
Amer Sports One and News Corp both suffered sail damage at the weekend.
After turning towards Bass Strait, Grant Dalton's Amer Sports One hoisted its heavy-duty spinnaker.
However, it was soon changed for a smaller sail, but during the change the spinnaker pole flew up the headstay, flinging a crewman into the air as high as the first mast-spreaders.
The smaller spinnaker was up for only a short time before a masthead shackle broke and the sail dropped into the sea.
Ross Field's News Corp also blew out a spinnaker.
"The poor old boat lay on her side flapping and screaming and then the spinnaker fell apart," he said.
"The guys got her back upright, pulled the spinnaker down, threw it in the bilge and we were off again within 15 minutes."
News Corp is battling with Assa Abloy but still has a chance of catching illbruck, which is 54 nautical miles ahead.
"This race is not all over - we're in for a restart," said Field.
"This is better than any America's Cup race."
Amer Sports Too is at the rear of the fleet in the Volvo-sponsored race, 600 nautical miles behind the leader.
