By JULIE ASH
The round-the world yacht race fleet are at the point where they are the furthest away you can be from populated land on the planet.
The eight boats are just over 2,500 nautical miles into their 6,700 nautical miles journey from Auckland to Rio de Janeiro.
The boats are starting
to experience the stronger winds that were forecast and their speeds have been increasing as the weather system has progressed towards them, allowing them to start to reel in race leader
illbruck who have a 46 nautical mile over Grant
Dalton's Amer Sports One.
News Corp and Tyco follow while Assa Abloy, djuice, SEB and Amer Sports Too make up the rear of the fleet.
The passage of the front has brought fog along with an increase in the air temperature but icebergs still pose a threat.
News Corp co-skipper Ross Field said conditions are "bloody freezing."
"The heater is running 6 hours a day, and we had
snow on deck. We're back in full Southern Ocean kit
which means it's taking us 30 minutes to get dressed, ready to face the outdoors," he said.
"Icebergs are a definite worry still. I saw the biggest iceberg of my career the other day. It was five miles high, and five miles long."
The wind is now expected to move to the left and increase further to gale force.
The fleet are expected to reach Rio de Janeiro on
February 19.
About the round-the-world race
Competitor profiles
Current standings
Previous winners
Volvo Ocean Adventure
