Movistar enjoying good conditions across the Tasman Sea

After racing more than 1,400 miles, Movistar nudged ahead of ABN Amro One to win by nine seconds in one of the closest finishes in the race's history.

ABN Amro One had held a comfortable lead before hitting almost windless conditions in the Cook Strait.

Pirates of the Caribbean sailed into Wellington two hours later in third.

"We knew it was a matter of time before Movistar caught up," said ABN Amro One skipper Mike Sanderson of the frustration of the weather conditions in the Cook Strait.

Movistar watch captain Stuart Bannantyne said: "We had some really nice sailing all the way across the Tasman and have a chance to catch them at the line - which fortunately we did."

Despite finishing second, ABN Amro One stretched its overall lead to 38.5 points while Movistar gained seven points and now has 25 overall to be provisionally second

The fourth leg, across the gruelling Southern Ocean to Rio de Janiero, starts on Sunday.

From Brazil the fleet heads up to the United States, Britain and then on to Scandinavia.

The race, which began in Vigo, Spain on 12 November last year, is due to end in Gothenburg, Sweden around 17 June.

Seventh-placed boat Brunel is due to sit out the next two stages while undergoing modifications.