The fight is on for the top bunks in the eight yachts in the round-the-world race.
The bunks are still wet from the heavy condensation in the hot and humid conditions of the Atlantic Ocean as the yachts head towards the Equator.
"However, the big advantage that the top bunks have
over the bottom ones is that sweat from a sleeping crew member does not drip on you from above," said Bouwe Bekking, the co-skipper on Grant Dalton's Amer Sports One.
At the latest position report, Amer Sports One was fourth, with Assa Abloy in front.
Illbruck, Tyco, and djuice remained close together in the middle of the fleet, and Amer Sports Two, News Corp and Team SEB were trailing.
Bekking said the crew were trying to ventilate the boat as much as they could, but with waves coming over the bows and heavy rain it was impossible, resulting in sauna-like temperatures below deck.
"The danger in the heat is not drinking enough.
"Roger [on-board doctor Roger Nilson] wants us to drink around eight litres a day per person.
"The first signs of dehydration have already struck some crew - severe headaches - so we are doing our best to force the liquid.
"Eating lunches and dinners are not very favoured yet, it is just too hot; as soon you stuff a spoon in you, the sweat starts running off you."
Bekking said the racing had been close, and one bad sail change or the wrong choice of sail could result in an immediate loss of half-a-mile.
Sea conditions were expected to be calm for most of the 18-day, 4450-nautical-mile leg from Rio to Miami after the freezing temperatures of the Southern Ocean on the last leg.
On Monday night, crews reported thunderstorms and wind squalls, and black clouds, which made the wind speed and direction extremely changeable with 40-degree wind shifts.
On overall race leader illbruck, which is seven points ahead of Amer Sports One after four legs, crew members have patched the hole punched in the port side by Team SEB in a collision soon after the start of the leg.
No one was hurt and the damage was not significant. Still, illbruck skipper John Kostecki said his boat lost time and complained that the penalty for SEB, a 720-degree turn, or two full circles, was not enough.
- NZPA
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Volvo Ocean Adventure
Yachting: Sodden top bunks still preferred by Ocean Racers
The fight is on for the top bunks in the eight yachts in the round-the-world race.
The bunks are still wet from the heavy condensation in the hot and humid conditions of the Atlantic Ocean as the yachts head towards the Equator.
"However, the big advantage that the top bunks have
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