MADRID (AFP) — Sino-Irish entry Green Dragon on Monday regained the lead of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world as weak winds shook up the standings of the eight participating boats.
The Green Dragon yacht overtook Spain's Telefonica Black and US side Puma Racing, both leaders of the race in the past, as it headed southwest toward the first 'scoring gate' at the island of Fernando de Noronha, off Brazil.
The other Spanish boat in the race, Telefonica Blue which had to make an unscheduled stop in the port of Algeciras to fix a broken rudder one day after the race got underway on October 11, has made up for lost time and is now in firth place.
"It's been good, obviously we were down the back end after the pit-stop and we've just had to sit and wait," Telefonica Blue navigator Simon Fisher told organizers.
"The last 24 hours have been pretty good for us, the boat has been going nicely and we've found good winds, so we've really improved on things," he added.
The boats are expected in Cape Town in South Africa where the first leg of the race ends on November 3.
After 37,000 nautical miles, the finish line is in St Petersburg, Russia, where the teams are expected in June 2009.
Each of the yachts receive points according to their position in each of the 10 legs. Half points are also awarded at seven scoring gates along the route and for the seven 'in-port' races.
On October 4, Telefonica Blue, skippered by Dutch veteran Bouwe Bekking, took an early lead in the competition by winning the first of seven in-port regattas.
Positions as of 1600 GMT Monday:
1. Green Dragon (IRL-CHI)/Ian Walker (ENG) 4,019 miles from Cape Town
2. Telefonica Black (ESP)/Fernando Echavarri (ESP) 25 miles behind
3. Puma Racing (USA)/Ken Read (USA) 33 miles
4. Ericsson 3 (SWE)/Anders Lewander (SWE) 40 miles
5. Telefonica Blue (ESP)/Bouwe Bekking (NED) 43 miles
6. Ericsson 4 (SWE)/Torben Grael (BRA) 46 miles
7. Team Russia (RUS)/Andreas Hannakamp (AUT) 51 miles
8. Delta Lloyd (NED)/Ger O'Rourke (IRL) 90 miles
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