HAMPSHIRE skipper Ian Walker is leading the charge south after the opening few days of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing were at the head of the seven-strong fleet of identical 65ft yachts today.

It has only been five days since they set sail from Alicante, Spain, bound for Cape Town, South Africa, but the early lead has given the team a welcome boost.

But with 6,000 miles of the leg still remaining, and just 12 miles separating the entire fleet, the race is still in its early days.

Double Olympic silver medallist Walker said he was putting his faith in right hand man and navigator Simon Fisher, better known onboard as SiFi.

Speaking from the boat, Walker, from Warsash, said: “It’s been a bit of a dogfight – we can’t seem to get rid of these other 65s. “There’s been a lot of action, and not a lot of sleep. I think it’s just going to be the nature of this race. “But pretty much if SiFi’s happy, I’m happy.”

VIDEO: below is highlights from the start of the Volvo Round the World Ocean Race in Alicante 

Fellow Hampshire skipper Sam Davies was in fourth place with her all-woman crew on Team SCA just three miles off the lead.

The ladies led the fleet out of the Gibraltar Strait but were caught up when they hit a patch of light air.

The Volvo Ocean Race is a 40,000-mile round the world race broken up into nine separate legs.

The seven teams, made up from the world’s best sailors, are competing in identical 65ft yachts built by Hythe-based Green Marine.

The race will finish in Gothenburg, Sweden, in June next year.