Leg 6 of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Race started on Sunday after a spectacular send-off from the new Marina at Keppel Bay, Singapore. In the sweltering heat and just 5-8 knots of breeze from the east, the ten crews struggled to maintain boat speed, but less than a minute after the start, the heavens opened and the crews were afforded some temporary relief in the form of a tropical downpour.

The crews now face a 2,600-mile race north to Qingdao, the host of the sailing events in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where the fleet will be berthed at the Olympic Sailing Marina. The first boats are expected to finish on 15 February. With just two points separating the top four boats, the pressure is on at the top of the Clipper 07-08 leader board.Durban 2010 and Beyondis currently leading overall with 33 points but the trio of British boats,Hull Humber,Liverpool 08andGlasgow: Scotland with style Clipperwill all be fighting to close the two-point margin to knock the South Africans off the top spot.
You can follow their progress here