HAMPSHIRE sailor Ian Walker’s bid to become the first British skipper to win the Volvo Ocean Race suffered a setback as his yacht slipped to third in the second leg of the contest.

Walker’s Abu Dhabi Racing team were nine miles behind leaders Team Brunel this evening, having had a 22-mile advantage on Friday night.

Team Dongfeng, who briefly led the race earlier today, have moved into second place, 4.6 miles off the front yacht.

The three yachts have been battling it out for front spot for most of this second leg from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi, with the rest of the pack some distance behind.

Fourth-placed MAPFRE are some 230 miles behind Team Brunel, while Team Alvimedica are a further 24 miles back.

The all-female Team SCA crew, skippered by Hamble’s Sam Davies, are in sixth, 325.1 miles from the lead.

The Danish crew of Team Vestas Wind have suspended racing after running aground and having to be rescued from a reef last weekend.

Team Brunel still have 1210 miles to hold on to their lead before they cross the finish line.

Current estimates place the most likely date for the arrival of the first yacht as December 13, with the leading trio averaging in excess of around 11 knots.

Team Brunel skipper, Bouwe Bekking, said: “We’ve had a good night with big gains, but nothing is decided yet. There will be big gains and big losses to make in the last part of the race.”