Sailing: McDonald placed to deny Kostecki decisive win

Under steel grey skies and relentless rain, the land of the midnight sun prepared a witching hour welcome last night for the Volvo Ocean Race here in the home town of its sponsor.

Fighting for his third leg win of the round the world tour, and to give those locals who braved the conditions something to cheer, Britain's Neal McDonald, in Assa Abloy, was neck and neck with the overall leader John Kostecki in illbruck.

His yacht numbers two of Sweden's finest, Magnus Olsson and Klas Nylof, in its six-nation crew and that was enough to excite special interest, as was the return of Gunnar Krantz in SEB. He and Magnus Woxen have to counter-balance five New Zealanders.

With 50 miles to run, you could cover the top five with a handkerchief but, with just the final leg to Kiel to come, Kostecki was still in with a chance of recording a fifth leg win to put things beyond doubt. Kevin Shoebridge's attempt to seal a fourth third place was being hampered by an injury to Guy Salter.