Chinese boat on verge of history making victory

Chinese boat Dongfeng Race Team stretched its lead in third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, heading to its home port on the southern tip of China. Charles Cau-drelier's crew can become the FIRST Chinese boat to win a leg in offshore sailing's leading round-the-world race, which was first held in 1973.

Conditions were calm for the vessel as it completed its trek through the Malacca Straights.The waterway sees nearly 94,000 boats pass through each year that includes large tankers, cargo ships and fishing vessels.

Dongfeng Race Team managed to increase its lead until early Thursday. The Chinese boat had a 41.7 nautical-mile-lead over second-placed Abu Dhabi Racing, with about 900 nautical miles to go to the finish of the third leg in Sanya.

Victory in the Chinese port would give the team the outright lead and make race history as the first Chinese boat to win a leg in the 41-year-old event. There would be no better place to do it than Sanya. The 4,670-nautical-mile-leg began in Abu Dhabi on Jan 3 and is likely to be completed this weekend.