By JULIE ASH
Grant Dalton's Amer Sports One got off to the best possible start in the fifth leg of the round-the-world yacht race from Rio de Janeiro to Miami.
Dalton was first across the start line in shifty conditions early yesterday morning (NZT).
By last night Dalton and Kevin Shoebridge's Tyco
were neck and neck, followed closely by djuice, Assa Abloy and illbruck.
Amer Sports Too, SEB and News Corp trailed them.
The fleet split almost immediately after the start. Djuice and Amer Sports One led the charge to the left, while illbruck and Tyco went to the right.
The left route proved more favourable because illbruck and Tyco had to zig-zag their way through the spectator fleet.
As djuice, Amer Sports One and illbruck battled for the overall lead, Lisa McDonald's Amer Sports Too managed to pass husband Neal McDonald on Assa Abloy to take, and hold, fourth place for the first 45 minutes.
Amer Sports Too had to make a last-minute crew change, replacing New Zealand's Bridget Suckling, who was recovering from influenza, with Briton Eleanor Hay.
Suckling was aboard ready for the start when medics recommended she stay ashore.
As the fleet converged at the first mark, off Sugar Loaf Mountain, djuice grabbed the lead. It was closely followed by illbruck after Amer Sports One made a poor decision in heading right at the end of the first beat.
By this stage the fleet was split by more than half a mile, with Jez Fanstone's News Corp at the rear.
Dalton's crew then snatched back the lead after finding more breeze offshore.
They pulled ahead minutes before passing between two islands and setting a course along the east coast of Brazil.
Several hours after the start there was a moment of drama with a port-starboard collision between SEB and illbruck.
In a brief report to race officials, illbruck lodged their intention to protest against SEB. They said they had suffered some damage in the incident.
The fleet is expected in Miami on March 27.
About the round-the-world race
Competitor profiles
Current standings
Previous winners
Volvo Ocean Adventure
