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1 June 2006, 11:29 am

Enjoying Life In The Fast Lane

Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix Series 2005-2006

Portsmouth, Great Britain

Brasil 1 sailor Andy MEIKLEJOHN (NZL) enjoyed life in the fast lane when he stepped onboard the Volvo Extreme 40 Holmatro for the penultimate day of the Portsmouth Grand Prix series in Great Britain. However it was the Brits on Team Basilica who really stole the show.

'I can't believe how much fun these boat are. The racing is fantastic as the boats are all so close and it really was a lot of fun out there today,' commented MEIKLEJOHN as he stepped onshore.

Despite having the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006 sailor onboard, the best result the team managed all day was a third place which kept Mitch BOOTH (NED) and his team in fourth position overall going into the final day.

Brits Shine

Team Basilica had one of the best days of the fleet and enjoyed the ten to 15 knot wind conditions. The all British team scored three first places out of the five races, to maintain their top spot.

Basilica helmsman Alister RICHARDSON (GBR) commented, 'It couldn't have been a better day for us. We sailed really well and managed to get the shifts right. The conditions were really tricky and with the turning mark so close to the shore the wind was very variable.'

Team Basilica enjoy a break
© Richard BLAKE

Looking to the final day he said, 'We have one day left and possibly four races remaining so we will just have to continuing doing what we have been doing and make sure we don't get caught out.'

Motorola Also Impress

It was also a good day for Motorola-CHR. The team were the only other boat to win races in the shifty conditions and after a 'good day in the office', they move up to second overall, overtaking Randy SMYTH's (USA) Tommy Hilfiger.

Helmsman Leigh MCMILLAN (GBR) said, 'It has been a good week and I am pleased to now be in second place. I didn't sail the first day of the regatta as I was returning from an Olympic event, but I am pleased with our performance. We have a bit to do tomorrow to catch Basilica but in these boats anything is possible.'

With one day of the series remaining, Team Basilica holds the overall lead, 21 points in front of Motorola-CHR with Tommy Hilfiger third. BOOTH and his team on Holmatro are fourth and Yves LODAY (FRA), the class designer, holds fifth place.

Racing concludes today at 1400 local time.

For a complete list of all the news about the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006 CLICK HERE.