The remaining ranked and unranked teams who are still continuing the race will skip the swim leg and trek through the jungle directly to PC 20 from PC 18. "The water levels were rising too high and became unsafe between PC 19 and PC 20," explained Tricia Middleton, head of Competitor Relations. "All of the teams who had departed PC 19 still ranked were escorted by safety staff."

Continuing ranked teams are now being diverted onto the newer, shorter course. To compensate for the decreased distance, race officials will apply a retroactive mathematical formula to race times at the end of the race.

"We will take into account the average travel time between PC 18 and PC 20, plus an energy expenditure factor," said Middleton.

Middleton explained that the change would result in some weaker teams -- both ranked and unranked -- crossing the finish line before stronger ranked teams. "That's just the way it goes," she said.

As is the Eco-Challenge custom, disqualified teams are allowed to continue on the course unranked, under most circumstances.

By 10:30 a.m., the last two teams to complete the frigid swim, Team Andersen Consulting/Claritin (USA) [go to Team Bio] and Team Enosus (USA) [go to Team Bio], arrived at PC 20, in 20th and 21st place, respectively.

"That was not fun," said Andersen's team captain, Steve Alessi, shaking out his dripping wet official Eco-Challenge passport.

Enosus, one of the youngest teams in the race, was looking alert, calm and relaxed.

Traveling together, the two American teams passed through PC 22 roughly 15 minutes behind Team Vail/PacketVideo [go to Team Bio], Team Tactel Inspira [go to Team Bio] and Team Discreet [go to Team Bio].