By JULIE ASH
After a rough first night at sea, Tyco still leads the fleet in the second leg of the round-the-world race.
After a picture-perfect start from Cape Town on Monday morning, the Volvo fleet was confronted with 35-knot head-winds a few hours later.
The Team Newscorp navigator, New Zealander Ross
Field, who has competed in three Whitbread races, described the conditions as "horrible."
"It would have to be my worst first night at sea for a long time," he said. "Big seas, bashing and crashing into a 38-knot south-easterly, crew seasick, no one eating, inside of the boat a real shambles."
If the rough weather wasn't bad enough, first-leg winners illbruck had to cope with a leak in their bow.
Illbruck skipper John Kostecki said the entire forward tank was full of water and the crew had to stop racing.
"We dropped the jib [and] moved all of our gear, below and above deck, as far aft as possible to stop the bow from sinking further," he said.
"We started the emergency pump and bailed with buckets from on deck.
"It took nearly rwo hours to control the situation before we could start racing again," he said.
"This all took place at night in 30-35 knots as our competitors sailed away.
"We had thoughts of going back to shore to smoother, calmer waters, but fortunately we were able to control the situation out at sea."
Last night, the weather had improved and the fleet were travelling at a steady 10 to 15 knots.
Djuice and Amer Sports One followed Tyco, and SEB, Assa Abloy and Amer Sports Too made up the middle of the fleet.
Sitting in seventh spot, Newscorp are waiting to see if their lone westerly option will pay off as the yachts approach a high-pressure area.
The yachts are expected to start arriving in Sydney about December 4.
