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Dutch entry Delta Lloyd was the surprise leader as yachts in the Volvo race headed into a tricky low pressure system en route to Ireland in the seventh stage of the round-the-world event.

"The sailing conditions are absolutely stunning. Downwind, 25-30 knots, flat water and a red morning sun," said Delta Lloyd's navigator Wouter Verbraak.

Delta Lloyd, seventh overall, was just a few nautical miles ahead of US entry Puma Ocean Racing and the two Spanish yachts, Telefonica Black and Telefonica Blue, at some 1,200 miles from the finish in Galway, Ireland.

But dark clouds in a cold front ahead will mean challenging conditions for all seven boats, with winds of more than 30 knots.

The seven yachts left Boston, Massachusetts last weekend are expected in Galway on Sunday after what promises to be a tight race.

Ericsson 4, the overall race leader, was fifth, but all the top five were separated by less than 10 miles.

Sino-Irish entry Green Dragon and Ericsson 3, which was delayed because of a collision with a whale, were further back.

This year's Volvo Ocean Race began in Alicante, Spain in October and is set to conclude in St Petersburg, Russia, in June after nine months negotiating 10 stages over 37,000 nautical miles.

Classification in seventh stage at 1400 GMT Thursday:

1 Delta Lloyd (NED)/Roberto Bermudez (ESP) 1,186 miles from Galway

2. Puma Ocean Racing (USA)/Ken Read (USA) 2 miles behind

3. Telefonica Black (ESP)/Fernando Echavarri (ESP) at 3 miles

4. Telefonica Blue (ESP)/Bouwe Bekking (NED) 6

5. Ericsson 4 (SWE)/Torben Grael (BRA) 9

6. Green Dragon (CHN/EIR/Ian Walker (GBR) 36

7. Ericsson 3 (SWE)/Magnus Olsson (SWE) 46

AFP