Rambler(ex-Alfa Romeo) has pulled out a big lead in the Rolex Middle Sea Race having rounded the top end of Sicily last night but the forecast strong winds has taken its toll on many competitors including one of the race favouritesTitan 12.

Although it is unclear the extent of what’s happened to Tom Hill’s yacht the tracker on the official website shows many her now heading back to Valletta and many others are also either retiring or heading to the east coast of the Sicily to take shelter from the extreme conditions.

IfRamblercontinues her staggering pace she could be looking at setting a new benchmark course time record which is currently held by Robert McNeill’sZephyrus IVwith a time of 64 hours 49 minutes and 57 seconds set in 2000.

More news when we have it.