HAMPSHIRE ocean racing duo Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson have stormed into third place after the first day’s racing in the Transat Jacques Vabre yacht race.

The pair, sailing Caffari’s Open 60 Aviva, had a strong start from Le Havre yesterday and climbed to third after a stormy first night in the English Channel.

At the first position report this morning Aviva was just five miles behind race favourites Michel Desjoyeaux and Jérémie Beyou in Foncia.

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Caffari said: “A good start from the line saw us sail downwind into a large swell that made the ride a little uncomfortable.

“The wind was not exactly as we hoped so we all headed slightly high of course.

“As the afternoon progressed we were all very close and before we knew it the daylight had faded and it was dark.

“With the dark came the wind and a change of direction.

“In fact it so dark you could not see the large waves we were sailing into any longer.

“The real buzz came at about 2200hrs when we were surfing along at 23 knots alongside Akena.

“All you could see were navigation lights and the walls of spray leaving the bow wave.

“We were so close and both boats were doing similar speeds.

“It took us ages to get clear so we could relax again.

“With a cloud full of rain visibilty was the worst it had been and we lost any navigation lights we were trying to track.

“Now after what has seemed like forever, the sun has risen, the wind has dropped and the sea is left with a messy swell and about four yachts have reappeared.

“Just to leeward on the horizon we can see Foncia so that has made us smile with our porridge.

“Today we have light winds for a few hours before meeting a new depression and tackling the cold front late tonight. We will be busy today, that is for sure.”

Hamble’s Sam Davies, sailing Artemis Ocean Racing with co-skipper Sidney Gavignet, was six miles behind Aviva in seventh.

Mike Golding from Warsash was in 12th and Alex Thomson was in 14th place.

The 5,000-mile race from Le Havre to Costa Rica is expected to take around 16 days.