Maverick Alex Thomson, is not one to follow the crowd and earlier last week made an astute tactical decision in the Velux 5 Oceans race to break away from the leading pack and head south-west around an area of high pressure that was blocking his path to the Southern Ocean.

Taking two steps back to make one giant leap forward, covering many
extra miles and heading in the opposite direction to Fremantle, Hugo Boss
benefited from more wind than Ecover and Spirit of Yukoh – both caught up in
the high pressure – and has now passed them to sail into second place.

Meanwhile mid-Fleet Sir Robin Knox Johnston is suffering from broken
battens, a temperamental pilot, and rapidly diminishing supply of whisky.
The combination of all these problems leaves him debating whether he should
incur yet another 48 hour penalty and pit-stop in Cape Town. Velux 5
Oceans race website: www.velux5oceans.com