The leading two boats sailed into Falmouth yesterday afternoon to finish the Azores and Back (AZAB) Race.

The Open 40s, La Promese and Hayai, were separated by little over a mile as they crossed the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club‘s line.

Dutchman JanKees Lampe, sailing La Promese singlehandedly, narrowly beat his compatriot Nico Budel on Hayai to the finish after 1,200 miles of close ocean racing.

The rest of the fleet, all either single or doublehanded, remain more than 80 miles away from Falmouth in less-racey boats than the Dutch duo.

Britons Andy Horrocks and Deb Fish, sailing a J-133 Jammy Dodger, currently lie in third position.

The fleet left Ponta Delgada on June 21 in breezy conditions (pictured), but have struggled with calms for most of the voyage.

Click here to see the fleet’s latest positions.

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