STEVEN MANN, Cape Town | Monday 4.00pm.
THE leading yachts in the sixth MTN Cape to Rio regatta are expected to reach Rio de Janeiro on Friday, 13 days after leaving Cape Town and more than 24 hours quicker than the 1996 race record.
The fleet leaders, which have had strong winds virtually since the start of the race, on Monday reported that conditions had eased and a light 10 knot north-westerly wind was pushing them along.
However the race backmarkers were still experiencing heavy weather, although the huge sea swell of the past few days had dropped off, race spokeswoman Christel Liebenberg said.
The race is still being led by the American maxi yachts Zephryus IV with Sagamore.
The only other maxi in the race, Portugal Brasil 500, which broke its boom on the first day of the race and had to return to Cape Town for repairs is more than 300 nautical miles behind, and is almost definitely out of the race for line honours.
The two high performance racers Greenwich Warrior and Maxtec Wizard are respectively placed third and fourth on handicap.
The small 30-footer Africa Group is fifth on handicap, despite her skipper Brent Gray having fractured his leg.
Liebenberg said Gray was initially bound to his bunk, but had recovered sufficiently to get back to the helm.
The crew of the ill-fated La Bamba, which sank on Thursday, were reunited with their families in Luderitz on Sunday.
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