With the winds shifting to the south, the fleet in the Round Britain Challenge appears to be closing up once again posing a real threat to the front-runners, as they continue their descent down the east coast of Britain.

At the beginning of the week there were just 25 miles separating the front yacht Spirit of Southampton and the neck and neck LogicaCMG and BG Group, the old rivals who were battling it out once again, resolute to push their way past each other and to first place victory.

Fourth-placed The Daily Telegraph was only 14 miles behind the top three boats with Basilica another 20 miles behind in fifth. Closing up the gap, four miles behind Basilica, was Spirit of Hong Kong.

The crew volunteers look like they are making the most of this final burst of the race, both in terms of pushing everything they can from their yachts, themselves and in reflecting upon what the event has meant for them.

The Round Britain Challenge demonstrates that you do not need to be hundreds of miles away in some exotic location to enjoy the splendours of the sport. Spirit of Hong Kong, reporting their daily log, summed it up: "It is an amazing experience to be surrounded by water miles from land and to see such brilliant sunrises and sunsets, schools of porpoises, fantastic starry nights. The beauty of creation never ceases to excite."