Race leaders left to sweat on inshore strategy

Leg six leaders Camper and Abu Dhabi were nervously waiting Tuesday to see if their split from the Volvo Ocean Race fleet would pay off on Tuesday, with the next 24 hours set to prove the wisdom, or otherwise, of their risky inshore strategy. While America team Puma, overall leaders Telefonica of Spain and France's Groupama were all heading far off shore, the two other teams contesting the leg from Itajai to Miami were clinging to the coast, as well as a slim advantage. The greatest threat to the leaders looks likely to come from Puma, who are bang in the middle of the fleet, and enjoying the best of the conditions. "I wouldn't like to call who's in the best position right now,'' said Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker, twice an Olympic silver medallist for Britain. "There's always decisions to be made, but for sure right now there's quite a big separation, quite a big difference in current and could quite easily be a big difference in breeze." Walker revealed that the had been given a rude awakening on Tuesday when bowman Wade Morgan, who weighs well over 100 kilos, fell through his bunk and landed on the skipper's head. "It was quite a wake-up call and I have a nice black eye to show for it." The teams should arrive in Miami at the end of Leg 6 in around 12 days, with the race as a whole finishing in Galway in July. Overall standings: 1. Telefonica (Spain) 149 points, 2. Groupama (France) 133, 3. Camper (NZ/Spain) 124, 4. Puma (U.S.) 117, 5. Abu Dhabi (UAE) 58, 6. Team Sanya (China) 25