For six of the teams on the Volvo Ocean Race the "if only" will refer to their feelings after Amer Sports One, djuice, illbruck, News Corp, SEB and Tyco were called OCS (over the line at the start) as they reflect on the advantages they may have lost by having to return to the pre-start side of the line after the gun, to start again correctly. This gave away vital distance to two boats ASSA ABLOY and Amer Sports Too, who started correctly. As a direct result of an OCS call, a boat can be affected quite dramatically, particularly if sailing towards building winds further up the racecourse.

Bad memories do not go away for racing sailors, as many competitive yachtsmen around the world will testify, having lost championships and titles through the dreaded OCS in a regatta or championship series. The points awarded for this short leg are the same as the longer ones, so for the teams any short lapses in concentration or effort could prove disastrous.

For now, the skippers and crews will have to get on with the job in hand, to race efficiently on this leg six from Miami to Baltimore which is in total 875 nautical miles. As the leg is relatively short, the "if only" factor may yet haunt them again, if as is quite likely, the boats finish in a heap at the end of this part of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Nick White from News Corp reflected on the situation, "Most of us had a shocker of a start - over at the gun. We had such good pace after the start that we were the last to get back to restart." On a more positive note however, the crew had fought back hard and he wrote, "We are, however, slowly picking the boats in front off one by one and are less than two miles from the lead... back on deck to look useful."

For Gunnar Krantz on SEB, the supporters were elated and quickly disappointed as she was one of the early boats to cross the starting line, only to be recalled with the rest to start correctly. "At this short leg the tactics will be very important. There will not be much room for mistakes and the boats that will get far behind will have problems to catch up", Krantz said at the dock just before leaving. For Mark Reynolds, a double Olympic gold medallist, who has recently joined SEB, this setback will be disappointing as he has an important role in the afterguard to strengthen the tactical calls.

Following a start that saw six boats recalled, the race office has been informed of the following intentions to protest :

Amer Sports One protesting djuice for a start line incident. djuice was seen to complete a 720-degree penalty turn. ASSA ABLOY has filed an intention to protest illbruck, for a pre-start incident. Tyco are seeking redress from the Race Committee regarding the restart.

Amer Sports Too has been the winner of these early hours of leg six. While other yachts went back behind the starting line to start correctly, the all female crew enjoyed an early lead that was soon challenged by ASSA ABLOY. Amer Sports Too was fighting with illbruck for second. The second group of yachts were hard on the heels of illbruck and Amer Sports Too : Amer Sports One, SEB, Tyco and News Corp were just one mile behind with courses slightly diverging.

The general consensus is that the Gulf Stream Drift will be a significant factor in the first 200 miles of this leg to Baltimore. The trick will be to find this current and endeavour to ride it for as long as it remains favourable to the course.

ASSA ABLOY continued with her strong performance, leading illbruck by a mile at the latest position report. The next four yachts, Amer Sports One, News Corp, SEB and Tyco are following the leaders but spread over 10 miles across the direct course.

The only yacht trying a different approach is Lisa McDonald’s Amer Sports Too. The girls decided to take a more northeasterly course, while everybody else is heading almost due north. Are the girls looking for a stronger current ? Are they already planning for a faster lane in the lighter stuff ahead ? With nothing to lose they are certainly in a position to try more radical approaches in the legs to come.

Light downwind sailing doesn‚t seem to have become djuice’s strongest point of sail. They have lost some miles, lacking almost a knot of boat speed to the leader ASSA ABLOY.