COMEDIAN Dom Joly joined Southampton sailor Ian Walker for the start of the latest leg of the Volvo Ocean Round the World race in Brazil today.

The television personality was onboard Walker’s Abu Dhabi when the sixth leg began, before jumping to safety shortly after the start in Itajai.

An almost total lack of breeze ensured the fleet had more than enough time to wave their farewells.

Just as Saturday’s Team Vestas Wind Itajaí In-Port Race was won almost in slow motion by Team Brunel, so the departure to Newport, Rhode Island, was conducted as if the fleet were sailing through treacle.

Overall race leaders Abu Dhabi found themselves on the wrong side of the start line when the gun signaled the start of the 5,010-nautical mile (nm).

Skipper Walker was forced to do an about-turn, very slowly because of the complete absence of wind, before finally getting their journey to North America underway.

There was some consolation for the Briton and his crew, though – the rest of the fleet was virtually parked up stationary.

The boats are expected to take around 17-20 days to reach Newport, the seventh port to host the race.

Meanwhile, Walker and co lost their lead in the In-Port Racing series yesterday.

The Dutch boat Team Brunel won the Itajai race, to move a point ahead of Abu Dhabi.

Walker’s crew were second, with Hamble’s Sam Davies skippering the all-female crew of Team SCA into third place.