Leg 8 Started on Saturday evening off La Rochelle and saw the fleet beating into strong head winds for the first 24 hours as they headed towards the English Channel. It was a tough first night as sea for the crews and there were widespread reports of seasickness throughout the fleet.
Once in the Channel though they were able to ease the sheets, set spinnakers and blast off north towards the next mark of the course off the Norwegian coast.
Initially the leg up the English Channel was a blast with strong wind and hard running conditions and the fleet made good progress however in the last 24 hours things have slowed somewhat and look to slow even more as the fleet nears the Norwegian coast.
Amer Sports Too and djuice were quick to drop off the pace of the leading bunch who remain close together with only 7 miles between 1st and 6th.
Assa Abbloy and illbruck are once again setting the pace though with the bunch so close and the trickiest tactical part of the leg still to come it really is anyones gain with only the last two yachts out of the picture.
The latest available standings are as follows:
