The Volvo Ocean Race fleet has started taking its position and after hours of competition, the boats have strategically placed themselves facing the Bass Strait, and they have started to match themselves to the "movistar", which is fighting first place against "ABN One", that had a 4 mile advantage over the Sanxenxo Royal Yacht Club boat till 11am this morning; but then the Spanish boat was able, in less than six hours, to move up from fourth to first place.

Right behind the Spanish are the Dutch that are lagging two miles behind, followed by the US boat "Pirates of the Caribbean", while the Swedish "Ericsson" and the Brazilian "Brazil 1" boats are respectfully in fourth and fifth place and lagging 5 miles from the Spanish boat. In sixth and last place is the "ABN Two" which lags 11 miles from its first place Spanish fellow competitor.

Pedro Campos - "movistar" director - was very pleased with the start of the 3rd leg, but maintained cautious "it is great news, it proves that the level of performance of the boat has improved after changing the hydraulic system, but it is too soon to really evaluate the results". The Spanish Skipper regards to the Bass Strait as a    
reference point for conclusions "we'll have to wait to see how sailing across the Bass Strait goes before seeing how the rest of the fleet performs and see if the Farr design are capable of keeping up the beat the cross wide courses with strong winds and hoisted waters".

3th Leg provisional classifications (Melbourne, AUS – Wellington, NZ)

1º MOVISTAR (Spain), 1.285 miles from the finish line
2º ABN AMRO One (Holland), lagging 0 miles from 1st position
3º PIRATES IF THE CARIBBEAN (USA),  lagging 2 miles from 1st position
4º ERICSSON (Sweden),  lagging 5 miles from 1st position
5º BRAZIL 1 (Brazil), lagging 5 miles from 1st position
6º ABN AMRO Two (Holland), lagging 11 miles from 1st position
7º BRUNEL (Australia),  has withdrawn