After the start inside Guanabara Bay and a tortuous first few hours in light winds, the fleet settled down into line astern – apart from movistar who sailed up the inside into the lead and then drag-raced ABN AMRO ONE to the scoring gate at Fernando de Noronha – and won! But by only a boat length.

Following the scoring gate ABN AMRO ONE led all the way while ABN AMRO TWO took a wrong turn half way through the leg and thereafter slipped back from the rest of the fleet. Brasil 1 traded places with Ericsson in the run-in to Chesapeake Bay.

The leader came through the minefield of Chesapeake Bay unscathed, followed by movistar and Pirates, while Brasil 1 made a smash and grab on fourth taking it from Ericsson and holding them off to the line. ABN AMRO TWO made a comeback from 200 miles + to just seven at the end.