Yachting: Frontrunners rewriting record book

By JULIE ASH

The top five yachts in the round-the-world race continue to battle for the lead, while repeatedly knocking spots off the mark for the fastest 24-hour run.

Team SEB led the Volvo-sponsored ocean race last night after breaking their own 24-hour mileage record. It is the third time the 24-hour record has been broken in the second leg.

The 24-hour mileage record of 451.2 nautical miles set on Sunday by News Corp lasted only 40 hours.

News Corp was the first boat to wash away the old class record held by the British boat Silk Cut from the last Whitbread round the world race in 1997-98.

SEB took the lead on Tuesday after setting another record of 453.4 nautical miles before bettering it with 458.5 nautical miles yesterday.

SEB skipper Gunnar Krantz said it was very rewarding to see the team pull together.

"To see the guys on deck working the boat is special. There is so much commitment and aggression but still time to look after each other."

SEB had a 10-mile lead over Assa Abloy last night. Past leaders on this leg News Corp, illbruck and djuice have over 35 miles to make up on the front-runners.

The fleet speed and mileages were still impressive last night, with the first five yachts sailing over 400-mile days in the 30-knot breeze.

Amer Sports One and Amer Sports Too cannot maintain the pace of the leaders and are left behind in lighter conditions.

Amer Sports One were around 200 nautical miles behind the leader last night while Amer Sport Too were over 500 miles behind.

Tyco is out of the water in Port Elizabeth for repairs to their broken rudder. They will ship the boat to Sydney for the start of the third leg.

The leaders have around 1475 miles to sail to Eclipse Island off the southwest tip of Australia. They are expected in Sydney around December 2.