The wind at the start – for all of 20 minutes – was the strongest of the whole leg. For the rest of the first phase to the Fastnet rock it was hot sun and slow sailing. ABN AMRO ONE surprised everyone by being able to stay with the fleet, but it was to nobody’s surprise that Ericsson was in the lead.

After the Rock then the fleet crawled up the Irish coast and the coasts of the Outer Hebrides in very little wind. They rock-hopped and even anchored in the adverse tide. At one point a puff of breeze brought ABN AMRO ONE sailing past Pirates and up to Brasil 1 as though they were standing still.

The the fleet split into two with Ericsson leading from Brasil 1 and ABN AMRO ONE. The rest dropped back to form the Silver Fleet, Pirates, a surprisingly fast and tactically adventurous Brunel and a not quite on the pace ABN AMRO TWO. Pirates were clearly suffering in these light conditions.

The Race Committee shortened course, missing out Fair Isle. Thick fog in the Pentland Firth, where tides of 13 knots, rocks and no visibility made life interesting. The lead trio made a 100 mile jump here which was never challenged. Ericsson went too far west on the approach to the finish and gave first to Brasil 1.