Sailing: Smith's tactics to be judged on Merit

The next few days will see whether the tactical gamble by Lawrie Smith of driving Intrum Justitia well south of all his rivals on the fourth leg of the Whitbread Race will pay off, writes Stuart Alexander. As the 14-strong fleet heads for Cape Horn, Smith was sharing the lead with the maxi Merit Cup and had a 38-mile advantage over the second W60, Galicia. For the last 48 hours the yachts have been in the unusual position of hunting for wind in the Southern Ocean but most are now back on track.