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Regatta Rubicon resumes

Bernard Stamm in Bobst has lost the lead in leg two

LANZAROTE, Canary Islands -- The Regatta Rubicon fleet has passed the Spanish Balearic Islands and is expected to reach the finish line on Wednesday.

The second and final leg -- 1,465 miles from Yaiza on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to Santa Margherita, Italy -- started after a two-day delay caused by high winds.

Frenchman Roland Jourdain on Sill Plein Fruit is looking to repeat his first-leg victory after taking back the lead from Swiss entry Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group Amor Lux.

Jourdain, who had built up a good 25-mile lead into the Mediterranean, saw his advantage evaporate as Sill Plein Fruit sailed into light winds off the Rock of Gibraltar, allowing the rest of the fleet to catch up.

Nick Moloney, standing in for Ellen MacArthur on Kingfisher, was the biggest loser, dropping back from second to last place when he strayed too close to the Spanish coast.

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As the four leaders passed to the north of the Balearic Islands, Maloney gambled on a southerly route to try to make up Kingfisher's 80-mile deficit.

A stronger northwesterly wind forecast for the remainder of the leg casts doubt on whether his gamble will pay off.

The 1,280-mile first leg took the fleet of Open 60-foot monohulls across the Bay of Biscay to Yaiza. Total prize money for the race is 76,200 euros.

Regatta Rubicon positions, Leg Two: