illbruck Challenge arrived in La Rochelle, France, crossing the finish line of Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race at 1315 GMT on Friday May 10. This is their fourth winning leg in the grueling nine-leg race that will finish in Kiel, Germany. Leg 7 is also a record-breaker for illbruck, with a daily run of 484 nm.
The yacht's crew was besieged by the flu on this leg, but despite their ill health, they accumulated 8 points for the leg, bringing their total point score to 49. With two legs of the race remaining, Assa Abloy is not far behind, with a total of 41 points.
Leg 8 is scheduled to depart La Rochelle for Goteborg, Sweden, on May 25, with an ETA in Goteborg of May 31, 2002.