Yachts depart on final leg

Thousands of spectators lined the harbor walls and others took to the water in boats to watch the fleet set off on the 450-mile sprint to Southampton, England.

Toshiba and Innovation Kvaerner got off to the best start when the gun went off, but the American yacht Chessie Racing moved into the lead as the fleet went around the second turning mark and headed out to sea.

Light northeasterly winds were forecast for the leg, which is scheduled to conclude Sunday afternoon.

Chessie Racing was trailed by Toshiba, 31 seconds behind, with Silk Cut in third, 49 seconds back, and Merit Cup a further nine seconds behind. Innovation Kvaerner was 1:30 behind the leader, followed by EF Language, Swedish Match, EF Education and BrunelSunergy.

EF Language, skippered by Paul Cayard, clinched the overall victory by finishing sixth in the eighth leg from Annapolis, Md. to La Rochelle. EF Language has 744 points, 115 ahead of Swedish Match. The final leg carries only 105 points for the winner.

Second place was to be decided in the final leg. Swedish Match holds a 36-point lead over Merit Cup and 46-point advantage over Chessie Racing.