Hampshire sailors have split ways in the round the world Volvo Ocean Race fourth stage.

Gosport’s Dee Caffari and Hamble-based skipper Sam Davies on board the all-female Team SCA boat have joined Team Brunel in heading north along the Philippine coast.

The other four boats meanwhile, including Warash’s Ian Walker, Poole’s Alex Higby and Hamble’s Simon Fisher on board the Abu Dhabi Azzam, have gone south.

The six-strong fleet of identical Volvo Ocean Racing 65s are currently on the latest leg of the 39,000 nautical-mile voyage, which will see them sail from Chinese port of Sanya to Auckland, New Zealand – a 5,264 nautical-mile journey that will take around three-and-a-half weeks to complete.

Dongfeng, the race’s overall leaders, commanded the early part of the section after leaving Sanya.

But it is now hard to tell who holds the upper hand after they split ways following the battle with rough seas in the South China Sea.

Brunel and SCA, looking to take advantage of stronger winds further north along the coast of Taiwan, headed bravely away from the rest of pack.

Meanwhile Dongfeng, Abu Dhabi, MAPFRE and Alvimedica headed off south, towards the northern tip of the Philippines.

There was then a further division as Spanish boat MAPFRE and Alvimedica decided on another route closer to the coastline.

Caffari and Davies, the skipper on SCA, initially made good headway but they have since slowed.

“To have the fleet so close means that to branch out on your own is a big call,” posted Caffari on the VOR official website before SCA, currently in sixth overall, broke off with Brunel.

“But to sail to a plan to make the most of the bigger, long term picture requires some nerves of steel.

“Will they come with us if we go? That is the million dollar question and only time will tell.

"Will the fleet go to the Philippines or will we hitch north to Taiwan? This is exciting to be part of and no doubt exciting and slightly more comfortable to watch on the tracker from your armchair.

“Conditions out here do not seem to be getting better but there is a promise of better days to come, this is giving hope to our poorly crew who are stoically continuing with their jobs onboard.

“We are struggling to find a rhythm in these conditions. Sleep is tricky in our bunks as we wedge ourselves in and brace ourselves for each monster wave we crash over. On deck it is relentlessly wet but the good news it is fast and fun sailing, honest!

“I am sure we will be complaining all too quickly that we do not have enough wind and we will have forgotten how we felt on these first few days departing Sanya. After all this is Team SCA living life at the extreme!”

MAPFRE are currently holding a slender lead in front of the Abu Dhabi boat while Alvimedica and Dongfend are in third and fourth respectively.

The breakaway boats, SCA and Brunel, are in fifth and sixth at present.