The finish line is drawing closer for Propeller-heads who are still leading the field in the Discovery Channel Adventure Race.
Steve Gurney, Kathy Lynch, Nathan Fa'avae, and Jeff Mitchell make up the New Zealand team of Propeller-heads who was six hours ahead of its nearest rival — Finland's team Nokia — at the last checkpoint.
If the team continues at its current pace, Propeller-heads should finish around midnight tonight and claim its second consecutive Southern Traverse win.
Injury and exhaustion have stricken three more teams: Magnetic Deviants, Voyager and Adventure Bosi Colombia all came down from the Arrowsmiths range last night.
Thirty-six of the 57 teams entered are still battling on.
Seven teams re-started the 33-km kayak and 9-km raft section at 6am this morning and should complete the full course. The teams included: Merrell Footwear, Outside Sports, Encompass, Explorer, Iberoamerica-Buff, Wigwam/Ultimax and Geraldine.
Twenty-four teams are still on the 47-km mountain trek in the Arrowsmiths range and are due down today.
The next cut-off time for competitors is 7am Friday morning. If teams are not on the water and in a raft by that time they will be disqualified.
Most of the teams could end up doing an alternative course, as they have to reach Fox Peak by 6pm Friday to do the final 34-km mountain trek.
– Southern Traverse Ltd
