Yachting: illbruck recruits world champion in search for speed

3.00pm

LONDON - Leaders illbruck Challenge will aim to reverse their poor form in the shorter stages of the Volvo Ocean around-the-world yacht race when they start the eighth leg from La Rochelle to Gothenberg tomorrow.

John Kostecki's illbruck won the seventh leg, their fourth stage win, to move eight points clear of second-placed ASSA ABLOY but a combination of the short 1075-nautical mile course and predicted gales could see illbruck struggling.

The two occasions when illbruck finished lower than third were on 'short' legs from Sydney to Auckland and from Miami to Baltimore, but the introduction of Ed Adams to the crew could reverse this.

Adams, a world champion from the Olympic star class, has been involved with illbruck since the start of the campaign and has been brought in as co-navigator.

"I felt we've been weak on some of the shorter legs closer to the land," Kostecki told the race's official website.

The other big crew change as the fleet moves from ocean racing to the short course coastal racing concerned Knut Frostad's djuice dragons after navigator Jean-Yves Bernot stepped down.

New Zealand's Erle Williams, who sailed with the dragons from Sydney to Auckland on leg three, has replaced the Frenchman and has also been given the last word on all tactical calls.

Although illbruck look certain to win the overall race the fight for second place will go all the way to the last leg as only three points separate the middle of the fleet.

Amer Sports One are in third place on 36 points with Team News Corp two points behind. Team Tyco are in fifth position one point further back.

Further back in the fleet the all-female crew of Amer Sports Too will start the eighth leg after a frantic three weeks following their dismasting, 400-nautical miles south east of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The boat was loaded on to a ship bound for Liverpool before being delivered to Southampton. The new mast was fitted and 18 hours later they sailed across the English Channel in time to join the fleet and start the penultimate stage.

"To be honest with you I am absolutely amazed we're here," watch leader Emma Westmacott said.

"It feels fantastic (to be here)," skipper Lisa McDonald said.

"It's a great sense of achievement ... we've been battling everything from mother nature, horrible tides, late ships and all sorts."

The crews are expected in Gothenburg on May 31. They will have an eight-day stop over before setting off for the last leg to Kiel in Germany.

- REUTERS

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