As the yachts in the Volvo Ocean Race continue to make their way down the Atlantic, Team Russia have been improving on their performance. They are closing in on the leaders but are still in need of points.

It’s been a harsh two weeks now for the yachts in the Volvo Ocean Race. The heavy waters and high winds of the first week were followed by the slow torture of the second. This did, at least, give the teams a chance to enjoy some rare peace and quiet and take a look around them.

They started from Alicante, Spain, passed the Gibraltar and headed for the infamous Doldrums – a low-pressure area around the equator.

The Kosatka crew hoped the slow pace and light winds would help them bridge the gap with Green Dragon, who were in charge by then. But the front runners stuck to their lead as the winds began to build and sped up to the scoring gate at the Brazilian archipelago Fernando de Noronha.

The Chinese-Irish Green Dragon crew are enjoying a narrow lead after lagging one hundred nautical miles behind. They were the first to check in and picked up four points for doing so.

While Ericsson 4, who had to evacuate their helmsman Tony Mutter due to an infected knee earlier in the week, were able to make up for the delay and beat early leaders Puma for second position.

Creating a five-way tie on top of the provisional standings, the two Telefonica boats, Blue and Black, have also gained six points each.

The boats are now expected to arrive for their first of the ten stops in Cape Town on November 3.