The first five yachts in the third leg of the VOR, from Sydney to Auckland, have rounded North Cape on their way to Auckland

The first five yachts in the third leg of the VOR, from Sydney to Auckland, have rounded North Cape, the second of New Zealand’s great landmarks.

Assa Abloy, still holding a comfortable 20-mile lead, and Grant Dalton’s Amer Sports One has sailed through the light wind at Cape Reinga to lead the following pack of illbruck, News Corp and Tyco by a comfortable 31 miles.

For djuice, Cape Reinga is rising above the horizon and Amer Sports Too is enjoying smooth sailing with the wind from their starboard quarter as the yacht sails along with steady 12 knots under the big spinnaker.

Jason Carrington’s, the sick crewman aboard Assa Abloy, is recovering. His fever is gone and he is eating and drinksing properly again.

Position Report, Day 9, 0358 GMT

1 AART

2 AONE (20 miles from leader)

3 ILBK (51 miles from leader)

4 NEWS (52 miles from leader)

5 TYCO (53 miles from leader)

6 DJCE (94 miles from leader)

7 ATOO (543 miles from leader)

8 TSEB (RTD)