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11:31 AM Mon 22 Dec 2008 GMT
The leaderboard among the top four is seemingly changing with each position report. Ericsson 4, the leader into the Malacca Strait, was passed yesterday and hasn't been able to reclaim the lead, but the overall race leaders isn't far from the front, and is desperate to get back to the top spot.
Overnight and early this morning the fleet has spent some time at anchor as the wind has faded completely and an adverse current has threatened to push them backwards. With each puff of wind, positions change as one boat is favoured by the wind gods over the others. It's not a fun time to be a Volvo Ocean Race sailor.
So how close is it? According to PUMA skipper Kenny Read, 'A solid 3 iron - that is what it would take to whack a golf ball off of the mainsail of half the fleet at this stage as we literally drift off the coast of Malaysia...I wish I could say that this wasn't expected but it was...Straight out of the leg three travel guide.'
At 04:00 the top four boats had split into two groups. PUMA Ocean Racing is currently leading the pack, by one mile over Ericsson 4. This pair has stayed in close to the coast of Malaysia.
Heading out towards the middle of the Strait, Ericsson 3 is one mile ahead of Telefonica Blue. All four of the top boats are within just four miles on distance to finish.
And still threatening is Telefonica Black, fifth place and just 13 miles behind the leader. Fernando Echavarri's crew is splitting the difference with the leaders in terms of distance off the coast.
About 35 miles further back, Green Dragon is protecting its sixth place position ahead of Team Russia, who have been steadily gaining on the dragons over the past 24 hours. From being 25 miles behind Green Dragon 24 hours ago, the Russians are just seven miles in arrears this morning, and making better speed.
Delta Lloyd remains out of the race from a competitive standpoint, over 150 miles back of the leader. But the team is still making their way towards the finish under sail and is expected about 20 hours after the leg winner.
The ETA for the leading group is fluctuating as wildly as the speed over ground being registered. With 110 miles to go to the finish, the most optimistic prediction would have the winner finishing late afternoon (GMT). In reality, it could take twice that time and be much closer to midnight.
What is sure is that each mile gained on the opposition is going to be very hard-earned. Some may decry the 'casino conditions' but the winner is surely going to be well-deserving of their Christmas presents this year.
Speeds for the leading bunch are averaging between 11 - 13 knots and, based on current progress, computer routeing software is predicting a finish for the first boats on Monday late afternoon GMT.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg Three Monday : 10:00 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions
1 Telef?nica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) DTF 51nm
2 PUMA Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) +2
3 Ericsson 3 SWE (Anders Lewander/SWE) +2
4 Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) +4
5 Telef?nica Black ESP (Fernando Ech?varri/ESP) 26
6 Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +62
7 Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) +65
8 Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) +174
by Event media
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