Winds make for tricky start to Volvo round the world race

Light winds in the Table Mountain parking lot off Cape Town made for a tricky start for the eight boats in the Volvo round the world race as they set off on their 4,450-mile second leg to Kochi, in south-west India.

Kenny Read's American entry Puma gave a powerful display off the start as his 70-footer hit speeds of 25 knots, but the glory quickly ended.

The first time that the race has gone up to Asia could be a tactical headache as they were all expected to avoid as much as possible the boat-breaking seas in the Angulhas Current and a scoring gate should keep them well east of piracy problems, but not shoals of small fishing boats.

At the end of the first week of the Vendee Globe singlehanded non-stop round the world race, the fleet was heading towards the Cape Verde Islands tomorrow night and then the Doldrums by Wednesday.

Loick Peyron continues to lead from Jean le Cam and Sebastien Josse with Mike Golding top Briton in ninth.

Brian Thompson is 11th and Sam Davies 13th as Dee Caffari has slipped to 16th, with Steve White 17th and Jonny Malbon 18th.