Leading up to the start of the round-the-world race New Zealand skipper Mike Sanderson was always confident in his boat's ability to perform in heavy breeze.
Just seven hours into the first leg of the gruelling 32,000-nautical-mile race from Spain's Vigo to Cape Town yesterday Sanderson's confidence was well foundedas the ABN Amro boats (One and Two) led the seven-strong fleet down the coast of Spain.
Optimised for medium to heavy conditions, the Juan Kouyoumdjian-designed ABN Amro boats relished the breezy conditions which hit the fleet early in the race.
After trailing USA entry Pirates of the Caribbean, Movistar (Spain) and Ericsson (Sweden) at the start, the Sanderson-skippered ABN Amro One hit speeds of 29 knots in 27 knots of breeze to surge into the lead.
But last night, with just over 200 nautical miles sailed, ABN Amro Two, sailing furthest left, had claimed a four-nautical-mile lead over Spain's Movistar with Sanderson's ABN Amro One a further three miles back. Former America's Cup skipper Paul Cayard's Black Pearl (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Neal McDonald's Ericsson were neck and neck.
In-port race winner Ericsson was the most windward of the fleet and Torben Grael had positioned Brasil 1 in the middle of the group, but was trailing the leaders by 20 miles.
The newly named Brunel Sunergy (Grant Wharington's Premier Challenge of Australia) was already 98 miles behind the fleet - still coming to grips with the new racing machine.
The wind was expected to build to 30-35 knots with gusts of 40 knots overnight but could ease today.
