Southampton sailor Ian Walker is preparing to embark on the next part of his challenge to become the first English skipper to win the Volvo Ocean Race.

The around the world, 39,000 nautical-mile epic race, second leg starts tomorrow from Cape Town, South Africa.

Walker, who captains the Azzam Abu Dhabi yacht on the 11-port competition, edged out Dongfeng Race Team by just 12 minutes in a thrilling stage one climax last week, after 25 days of sailing from Alicante to Cape Town.

Now, following success in the in-port race on Table Bay, the double Olympic silver medallist will look to get the better of the rest of the seven strong, identical boat fleet, of Volvo Ocean 65s as they race 6,125 nautical miles to Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

Walker is joined on board by Hamble-base sailor Simon Fisher, who is the navigator on board the Abu Dhabi and played a big role in their success in the first leg of the voyage.

The journey on the second stage will take the fleet from the southern hemisphere to the northern one, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean.

Because of certain conditions off the coast of Africa the fleet is likely to encounter tough headwinds in the first 24 hours after the start.

Navigators will have to make an early decision whether to head south in the westerly winds or stay close to the African coast.

Hamble’s Dee Caffari and Sam Davies, on board the all female Team SCA boat, which finished last in the first 6,487 nautical mile leg, impressed in the in-port race – finishing third – and will look to build on a that positive result.

Another local Hampshire seafarer, Sam Goodchild on the Spanish MAPFRE yacht finished last in the in-shore battle and sixth in the Alicante voyage. That means they currently prop up the standings.

However, with more than 30,000 nautical miles still to go a lot could change. The ocean race is due to finish in June in Gothenburg, Sweden.