Ian Walker completed a full set of podium finishes in the Volvo Ocean Race this morning.

The Hampshire skipper, on board Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing with Southampton-based navigator Simon Fisher, came home second on the third leg of the gruelling round the world race.

Despite missing out on top spot, he admitted: “I’m very pleased with this one.”

Walker’s crew finished three hours behind leg winners Dongfeng in the race to the Chinese port of Sanya, but held off nearest challengers Team Alvimedica, MAPFRE and Team Brunel after weeks of neck-and-neck racing.

The battle for second was so intense that, even as the finish line drew into sight, Walker was never entirely confident.

“I wasn’t comfortable last night, even though common sense said we were fine, we were pointing at the finish line, I still had a pretty sleepless night, we never really knew,” he said.

Walker added: “It feels like we were having our own mini-race back here, the four of us.

"We were never going to catch Dongfeng, they weren’t in the same race. We sort of feel like we’ve won our own mini-race.”

The 44-year-old had already guided his team to victory in the first leg and third place in the second leg.

The nine-port epic, which ends in Gothenburg, Sweden in June isn’t over just yet, and even though there are 42 nautical miles between Walker and Dongfeng, the Hampshire sailors aren’t giving up hope.

He said: “They’ll be very happy, congratulations to them – but we’ll be after them next leg, that’s for sure!”