Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR) passed through the scoring gate at Fernando de Noronha today in the lead at 12:24 GMT. They moved clear to the top of the score board for a short time with six points, before Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA) followed through at 13:59 GMT. They both sit at the top of the table with six points.

A relieved Ian Walker said, "We're delighted on board. We've been leading for a few days now and every single position report we're watching to see if they're closing in us, but we're holding them off."

Guy Salter (Media Crew Member) on Ericsson 4 described the tension, as the short handed crew pushed as hard as they could towards the gate. "Nobody has time to chat as all concentration goes into getting to the gate quicker than the boats around us, that is why it is my turn to write the report."

"The strain of being a man down is showing in the harder conditions - but we seem to be coping, although if Tony (Tony Mutter) were here we would probably have that extra gear he often provides us with."

The International crew on Ericsson 4 just pipped PUMA (Ken Read / USA) to the post after days of battling. Ken Read, although concentrating hard on the blue and orange boat in front, did have to endure King Neptune's visit as three crew members including himself were virgin's to crossing the equator.

The skipper was covered in 'rancid food' and vegemite was rubbed into his hair but it was the pony-tailed young crewman Muller who pulled the shortest straw of the trio. Read described the scene, "He was simply handed a pair of scissors. I don't think any of the boys had the guts to cut Michi's hair for fear of retribution. But they gave Michi the chance and he immediately reached back - grabbed the pony tail - and cut off the last inch or so of the long blond locks. All to the huge amusement of the entire team."

PUMA was 12 miles from Fernando at the 1300 GMT report and will gain three points if they cross in third position. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) is currently in fourth, 31 miles away with it's sister boat Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) 65 miles behind them.

Simon Fisher navigator from Telefónica Blue had praise for the Green Dragon crew this afternoon but says his crew are still determined, with 3450 miles still to go till the finish in Cape Town. "As I write the first boat has just passed the scoring gate at Fernando de Noronha. Good work Ian (Walker) and crew - I think they have sailed a great leg so far, going as west as we probably all should have done but didn't quite have the guts... They stuck by their strategy and have been awarded maximum points."

Ericsson 3 (Anders Lewander / SWE) are currently in sixth position with Delta Lloyd (Ger O'Rourke / IRL) to the east of them having jumped up the position board into seventh in the past day with their increased boat speed. They have had a 24 hour run of 311 miles compared to Team Russia's (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT) 227. Delta Lloyd has a better wind angle at the moment to sail to the gate, due to their easterly placing but with 171 and 192 miles respectively till the island there is still all to play for.

Leg One Day 14: 1300 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions
(boat name / country / skipper / nationality / distance to leader)

Green Dragon IRL / CHN (Ian Walker / GBR) DTF 3354
Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael / BRA) + 13
PUMA Racing Team USA (Ken Read / USA) +16
Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri / ESP) +31
Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking / NED) +96
Ericsson 3 SWE (Anders Lewander / SWE) +153
Delta Lloyd IRL (Ger O'Rourke / IRL) +174
Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT) +197

Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for all the latest news!

The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain, on 4 October 2008 with in-port racing, it will, for the first time, take in Cochin, India, Singapore and Qingdao, China before finishing in St Petersburg, Russia for the first time in the history of the race.

Spanning some 37,000 nautical miles, stopping at 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier yacht race for professional racing crews.