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Latest estimates put the Spanish entry across the finishing line at 17:30 GMT

Spanish entry “Telefónica” is soon to finish the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, and if all goes to plan then the yacht will do so in first place on the leg and as the new round the world regatta leader. At 15:00 GMT today the crew headed up by Spain's double Olympic medallist Iker Martínez was just 52.7 miles from Cape Town, the end point of no less than 6,500 miles (12,038 km) of sailing. The boat has sailed down the Mediterranean, through the Gibraltar Strait, across the Equator and the lulls thereabouts and down to the cold South Atlantic and the 'Roaring Forties'.

According to the latest position report, published at 15:00 GMT, “Telefónica” is sailing at 16 knots and on a direct course for the South African city where the rest of Team Telefónica are busily preparing to give the crew the reception they deserve. The final sprint towards Cape Town is proving faster than expected and the yacht has been notching up good mileage.

Getting in first goes a long way in providing relief from the intense cold the crew are experiencing in the zone they are currently in. The same goes for the tiredness built up over 22 days of uninterrupted racing. “These have been tough days, cold and windy and now all we are thinking about is finishing. The tiredness is catching up with us”, wrote Diego Fructuoso from on board the boat. With the finish so close now, the Spaniard also admitted that “the days seem longer, but everyone tells me that's normal. We've also heard that there's good weather in Cape Town, that it's hot. I just can't believe that yet because out here it's mighty cold indeed...We hope everything will go well and that we'll be crossing the finishing line of the longest leg on the Volvo Ocean Race in first place tomorrow”.

FOR UPDATES ON THE FINISH PLEASE VISIT OUR SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES:

www.facebook.com/teamtelefonica

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NOTE: WE WILL HAVE MORE IMFORMATION AND UPDATES FROM APPROXIMATELY 19:30 GMT, FOLLOWING THE FINISH

PROVISIONAL RANKINGS LEG 1

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

Day 22 – 15:00 GMT – 26^th November 2011

1^st  Team Telefónica (Iker Martínez), 52.7 miles from leg finish

2^nd  Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand (Chris Nicholson), 266.2 miles from leg finish

3^rd  Groupama Sailing Team (Franck Cammas), 878.8 miles from leg finish

Puma Ocean Racing (Ken Read), Retired from Leg 1

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

Team Sanya (Mike Sanderson), Retired from Leg 1