Europe 1 New Man Star - Kingfisher stretches her wings

POSITIONS IN MONOHULL fleet at 0730 GMT MONDAY

1. KINGFISHER  1154
2. SILL         +39
3. WHIRLPOOL    +67
4. TG4         +127
5. SOLIDAIRES  +136
6. PRB         +181
7. FILA        +181

Virtual Spectator is now updating positions more regularly as the multihulls near the finish - neck and neck! Download the new version with hour by hour commentary at www.virtualspectator.com

Fleet will enter the iceberg zone today, with just a hundred or so miles to go to the Grand Banks area. The Iceberg Zone will require extreme caution and attention from the skippers. The biggest problem are the 'growlers' - smaller chunks of ice that have broken free from the larger bergs, and that float near the surface. Even at a slow speed, contact can cause major damage.

Like a school kid with her first gold star, a very content Ellen MacArthur called in during the night to explain how she had managed at the 2030 GMT poll, a 75 mile lead over SILL (since reduced to 39 miles).

"I could see this small secondary depression forming just to our south yesterday afternoon. I monitored it continuously, visually with the band of cloud, by Weather Trac (satelite photos) and by the internet weather sites. At one point I took what might be considered an unfavourable track to the north - but it really paid - I got clear of the light airs associated with the centre of this small perturbation, and was soon whistling away on a reach at 14 knots. A couple of times I sensed I was getting too close again, it was sucking me in, and headed further north. I could see the light patch behind me in the distance, that was a great feeling! The wind is not solid yet, and Bilou (SILL) has taken a few miles back in the past few hours while we've been reaching, so the pressure is on big time again. Its given me some more confidence though to know I made a good decision"

Things have been tougher since; "I can see that Bilou (SILL) is really pulling back up. Makes it really stressful again, I'm trying everything I can to keep my lead, but I can see him going faster than me in these conditions. I'm just in between spinnaker and gennaker and learning fast which works best!"

WHIRLPOOL continues her comeback, and at the early position poll was in fact in second place, after a very difficult and frustrating afternoon yesterday for Jourdain (SILL) when he was stuck at the centre of the secondary low.

MULITHULL MATCH RACING

An incredible finish for the multihulls - at this morning's poll, Alain Gautier (FONCIA) had retaken the lead, with 421 to go but with EURE et LOIRE at 5 miles and Cammas (GROUPAMA) only 2 miles away. Travelling at 20 knots, thats distance that can be gained or lost while you make a cup of tea! These guys are right on their fatigue limits, and are drawing on their deepest energy reserves to maintain the pace as they battle it out in sight of each other.

More Information: www.kingfisherchallenges.com