Overmarine Group has launched saturday morning the latest Mangusta 165 hull number 7

The spectacular 77 metre (252.6ft) superyacht Smeralda was successfully launched by her builder Hanseatic Marine

The leading four boat pack are turning in fast and furious performances as they scream through the huge waves of the South Pacific in more than 40 knots of wind at peak boat speeds over 30 knots.

Speed and excitement are building as the five front-runners fast gain pace on the back of a low-pressure sling-shot that could propel them into 24-hour record breaking territory.Read More

After two days of relentless punishment from high winds and huge waves on Leg 5 from Auckland to Itajaí the top five boats are set for some relief over the next 24 hours as two high pressure systems bring lighter conditions.

Team Telefónica are leading the cracked-sheet fleet on a blasting reach towards 40 degrees south at speeds in excess of 18 knots.

Sanya skipper Mike Sanderson showed old pal and three-time Volvo Ocean Race winner Mark Christensen that he still has some tricks up his sleeve as he sailed his team to victory in the Auckland Pro-Am.

The fleet is beginning to gradually converge as the eastern and western packs set their sights on the island of New Caledonia, the final major landfall before the Leg 4 finish in Auckland New Zealand.

Today, a split strategy is looking increasingly likely as an unexpected wind shift and strong currents force the three westerly boats to consider sailing through rather than round the Solomon Islands chai

Puma is powering at breakneck speeds almost double those of the fleet and fast closing the more than 200 nautical mile gap with leg leaders Camper