Everything is set for a thrilling finish in the latest stage of the Volvo Ocean Race tomorrow morning.

With the lead yacht expected to cross the finish line around 9am, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing has just lost its slender advantage.

The yacht, skippered by Hampshire sailor Ian Walker, has been narrowly ahead of closest rival MAPFRE, but at the at the latest time check this afternoon, had slipped to 0.7 miles behind them.

However, both boats have pulled away from third-placed Dongfeng Racing, who are 4.3 miles off the pace.

Team Alvimedica is 15.4 miles from the lead, while Team Brunel and all-female Team SCA are 50.3 miles and 59.9 miles away respectively.

It means that realistically it’s a three-way race to reach Auckland, New Zealand, and win stage four of the event.

The yachts will have raced 5,264 miles from Sanya to Auckland by the time they reach the end of the stage, having set off on February 8.

Walker is hoping to become the first British sailor to skipper a winning yacht in the Volvo Ocean Race, and has so far scored a first, third and second place in the opening legs.

There’s still a long way to go, however, with five more legs to come before the race ends in Gothenburg, Sweden, some time towards the end of June.

Leg five starts on March 15 and will stretch 6,776 miles from Auckland to Itajai in Brazil.