Despite being two-handed and very much smaller, the leading Open 60s were only a 70 minutes behind the two maxis at the Fastnet Rock tonight after nearly 400 miles of racing. Vincent Riou and Seb Josse were first to pass just after 1900, closely followed by Jeremie Beyou and Sidney Gavignet on another new Farr design, Delta Dore.

I talked to Helena Darvelid, their media correspondent, just as they went round. She was full of beans and had some very interesting things to say about the teamwork aboard and the power of the boat, which you can read in my blog.