Hampshire sailors finish first in second leg of round the world race

Team GREAT Britain won the 3,400-mile second stage between Rio and Cape Town, completing the second of eight stages in 14 days, two hours and 30 minutes.

The team contains a pair of local sailors – Dawn Miller, 44, a Clipper Race worker, of Gosport, and Charlotte Morton-Haworth, 33, BID manager, also of Gosport.

GREAT Britain Skipper, Peter Thornton said: “The tension was incredible in those last few miles. I must admit I was getting very worried because not only had we been neck and neck with Derry-Londonderry-Doire, Garmin and Mission Performance for the last 72 hours, but racing down towards Cape Town in the last closing hours it was just so close."

Most of the teams have now finished with all 12 expected to have crossed the finish line by today.

The competitors have dealt with strong weather conditions that have forced boats together closer than the sailors would like.

Peter added: “I’m hoping it’s not going to be like this for the rest of the race, it’s very exhausting!"We are constantly looking at the AIS, looking at the speeds of the other competitors, looking over your shoulder or ahead of you trying to catch up. It’s really amazing stuff.”

After a short rest the teams will set off on leg three between Cape Town and Albany, Western Australia, which covers more than 5,000 miles and should take around 24-26 days.

As reported by the Daily Echo, tragedy struck the race earlier this year when a crew member died at sea for the first time in the event’s history.

Andrew Ashman, 49, was less than a week into the year-long event when he was struck unconscious while sailing off the coat of Portugal, and he succumbed to his injuries despite efforts to resuscitate him.

Mr Ashman had enjoyed sailing since joining the London Sailing project when he was 16 and was experienced on the seas, having completed his competent crew, day skipper, yachtmaster theory and coastal skipper courses.