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The Spanish boat is sailing in the Southern hemisphere 13 miles from the leaders and with minds focussed on the next key point in meteorological terms: the St Helena High

At almost midday GMT "Telefónica" crossed the Equator in second place. The battle between the boat skippered by Iker Martínez and "Puma" continues now into the Southern Hemisphere and as Martínez says: "The fight must go on."

During the night "Telefónica" put the lulls at the Equator between latitudes 6 and 3 degrees North behind them, getting past them in just over a day of racing. Skipper on the Spanish boat Iker Martínez described the passage through the Doldrums: "We were stalled at 0 knots and we battled it out close hauling with all our might with some 8-10 knots for the most part and at certain points we even got up to 23 knots in front of some cloud, so we have really had the works here at the Doldrums. It hasn't been too bad. The lulls have treated us well and we got out quickly, and although our main rival "Puma" had a better time.”

If there's been a main feature of these Doldrums it's been the intermittent showers, as various members of the crew on "Telefónica" have pointed out. Alicante's Pepe Ribes commented on this yesterday: "They told us we were out of the Doldrums but they tricked us. Here we are, shower here, shower there... between showers." Cantabria's Antonio Cuervas-Mons "Ñeti" said "we've got everything ready to be hoisted should we get another shower because the ones we've had have been very violent."  

Sights on St Helena

With the Equator astern of "Telefónica", sailing at 13 miles from "Puma" and at 11.9 knots, a new leg within this leg begins for the double Olympic medallist and crew with Fernando de Noronha ahead, which the Spaniards should reach in a few hours, and the other short term challenge ahead: the St Helena High. "From Fernando de Noronha there's the difficult task of managing the shortest routing without hitting the St Helen High, which is looking pretty South right now."

On board "Telefónica" the main objective is still Cape Town (South Africa), the end point of the Volvo Ocean Race, as Iker explained: "It may be that we have to take a fairly long routing to get to South Africa, gaining a lot of South before making our way around the anticyclone and then gaining East to South Africa. It's still looking like we'll be fighting with "Puma" who'll be nearby, as both entries seem to be pushing forward at similar speeds and neither of us seem to let up for anything."

A shower for a shower...

Last night Diego Fructuoso described the heat, which is beginning to intensify: "The heat is incredible. When you enter the boat it's like stepping into a sauna. We're making the most of it to dry our clothes, but I just can't stop sweating. I almost can't use the computer during the day because I'm just soaked. Yesterday 'Patán' (Pablo Arrarte) made the most of a shower to give himself one. I was very jealous."

The mood on board "Telefónica" continues to be good, as Iker Martínez says: "We are really enjoying it. Our boat is performing like a champion and little by little we are getting to know her better and we are discovering those little things that make you go that bit faster. The mood on board is great and we are enjoying racing. When everything goes smoothly, as it is now, everything's a bit easier. We all know each other very well and we've found our racing pace and the best way to all live and sail together comfortably and efficiently."

PROVISIONAL RANKINGS LEG 1

ALICANTE (SPAIN) - CAPE TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA): 6,500 miles

Day 12 - 16:00 GMT - 16th November 2011

1. Puma Ocean Racing (Ken Read), 3,527 miles from leg finish

2. Team Telefónica (Iker Martínez), + 13.3 miles from leader

3. Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand (Chris Nicholson), + 147.5 miles

4. Groupama Sailing Team (Franck Cammas), + 350.6 miles

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker), Retired from Leg 1

Team Sanya (Mike Sanderson), Retired from Leg 1