The last Brit in the race, Steve White, is the favourite of many for being a true ‘corinthian sailor’. The 36-year-old, dubbed ‘the underdog’ is still 1,700 miles from the finish line, but this is a remarkable achievement for a man who only started sailing 10 years ago.

He and his wife Kim have twice remortgaged their house so that Steve could take part in the Vendee Globe 2008, solo,non-stop round-the-world race.

His yacht is Josh Hall’s former Gartmore, built in 1996 with water ballast and no canting keel. She is far outdated compared with other boats in the race.