Hampshire sailors Sam Davies, Dee Caffari and Libby Greenhalgh are looking to continue their fine in-port form in the Volvo Ocean Race this weekend.

The trio onboard the Team SCA boat are sixth of seven boats overall on the round-the-world race but, in the in-port series, the all-female crew are flying high, writes PETER HOWARD.

Hamble skipper Davies has led the women to two victories in Abu Dhabi and New Zealand, meaning they’re currently third overall in the in-port competition.

They’ve also come third in the race in Cape Town.

But that is in stark contrast to what they’ve achieved out at sea where they’ve finished second to last on four of the five legs so far and last in the latest leg from Auckland, New Zealand, to Itajai in Brazil.

Their struggles might have something to with the fact that they are carrying 12 crew members, three more than everyone else, which means their yacht is much heavier.

The Itajai in-port race starts tomorrow, with the sixth stage to Newport on the east coast of the United States beginning on Sunday.

Team SCA will be relishing the opportunity to once again show-off their in-port abilities.

Meanwhile, there is good news for Dongfeng Race Team, who were forced to retire from leg five after part of their mast snapped. They have repaired their boat and are ready to race.

Team Vestas Wind, which took series damage in November during leg 2 when they collided with a reef in the Indian Ocean, still hold out some hope of competing in this year’s competition.

They are working hard rebuilding their craft in an Italian boatyard and have set themselves a very tight schedule of returning in late May/ early June for the final two legs.