The ten yachts competing in the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race set sail on leg three today and will head into the Southern Ocean to visit Australia for the first time in the ten-year history of the event. It seemed the whole of Durban came out to bid the race farewell with skydivers flying the world’s biggest South African flag, beach festivals, over 500 boats, canoeists and surfers out on the water, and more than 50,000 well wishers lining the coastline.

Liverpool 08 were the first to cross the start line, but too early and had to do a 360 to get them back on course, putting Durban in first place. Glasgow soon took the opportunity to snatch away the lead, with good clear air and their genoa flying, the Scottish entry stormed forward leaving the fleet behind.

The new route that takes the fleet from Durban, South Africa to Fremantle in Western Australia will take the amateur crews into some of the harshest conditions they will face during the ten-month circumnavigation.

Order at second mark today

1. Glasgow

2. Durban

3. Cardiff

4. westernaustralia.com

5. Liverpool 08

6. Qingdao

7. Victoria

8. New York

9. Jersey

10. Uniquely Singapore

Current leaderboard

1. westernaustralia.com: 24.5 pts

2. Liverpool 08: 19.5 pts

3. New York: 18.5pts

4. Cardiff: 18 pts

5. Uniquely Singapore: 14 pts

6. Durban: 13 pts

7. Qingdao: 11 pts

8. Victoria: 6.5 pts

9. Jersey: 6 pts

10. Glasgow: 3.5 pts