HAMPSHIRE sailors battling it out in the Clipper Round the World Race were last night heading towards potentially stormy seas as they cross through the notorious “roaring forties” latitudes.

The 12-strong fleet set sail on Saturday on the second leg of the race from Rio in Brazil to Cape Town in South Africa.

Great Britain, whose crew includes 20- year-old student Jacob Carter, from Fareham and Steve Mabey, 47, from Millbrook in Southampton, is currently leading.

Invest Africa is last – although the team, whose crew includes Southampton housewife Diana Nicholson, 56, have come close to smashing a Clipper race record by recording 273 miles in 24 hours Also taking part are former Southampton City College principal Lindsey Noble, 60, of Winchester, Charlie Pickering, 58, of Totton, Kate Hepworth, 40, Dave Richards, 63, an engineer, Charles Slater, 39, all of Southampton, and John Menetrier, 60, of Gosport and clinical psychologist Peter Wilcock, 66, of Winchester