The first boat home in the 2001 Rolex Fastnet Race has the finish line in sight in Plymouth.

Royal Ocean Racing Club officials reported visual contact with the 60ft trimaran Eure et Loir at 0945 and Francis Joyon and Rodney Pattisson are expected to take the gun before midday.

Although outside the record, their time for the 608-mile course will be well under two days.

The leading monohull, Giovanni Agnelli’s Stealth is expected this evening. Two hours behind Stealth John Kostecki in illbruck has snatched the lead in the Volvo 60 race from Jaz Fanstone in News Corp.