In the Velux 5-Oceans you can hardly imagine that Bernard Stamm is looking nervously over his shoulder at the chasing pack, Kojiro Shiraishi 750 miles astern and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston 2,200 miles back and wonder whether he should floor the accelerator. Unless he breaks something on Cheminees Poujoulat, which is always the big unknown in these races, with the only other two competitive boats, Hugo Boss and Ecover, effectively out of the race it is going to be nigh on impossible for anyone to reel him in.

Because the scoring is cumulative he will be able to cruise home for the second and final legs for his second solo round the world race victory. So where’s the race?

Ever since the Vendee Globe became the prime solo round the world race Around Alone, now Velux 5-Oceans has taken second place in the league and the situation has not been made easier for them with the clash of dates with the Route du Rhum creaming off some top boats and skippers.

When the first Whitbread Round the World Race took place – and later the first BOC solo race – it was perceived as an adventure. The Whitbread grew up fast and it was not until the latest two Vendee Globes that solo racing has been seen as racing. The Velux, meanwhile, with a now less than credible fleet is, I’m afraid, back to being a few brave individuals having a round the world adventure.

Picture: Bernard Stamm, courtesy OnEdition