After a mammoth overnight fight, Barclays Adventurer, skippered by Stuart Jackson, took first leg line honours of the Global Challenge 2004/05 on the 33rd day of racing. After 6,000 miles they were a mere 15 minutes in front of VAIO, skippered by Amedeo Sorrentino.

At 09h 23m 00 GMT Barclays Adventurer crossed the finish line and the exhausted crew collapsed into one another’s arms in sheer delight. VAIO crossed the finish line at 09h 38m18, disappointed not to have pipped their rivals to the post, but equally thrilled to have taken 2nd place after such a momentous fight in the first leg.

The yachts were racing for over 760 hours but it was just two miles and 15 minutes that separated the front two yachts, making it the closest and most competitive leg in the event’s history. Samsung has just crossed the line in 3rd but the fight is still on between 4th, 5th and 6th with just 27 miles between these yachts at just before midday.