At 20:26 GMT on Wednesday 3rd October Yannick Bestaven on Aquarelle.com crossed the finish line off Puerto Calero, Lanzarote and took line honours for leg one.

Behind him is teammate Arnaud Boissierres also on Aquarelle.com and in third position Sam Manuard on Tip Top who finished six hours and 27 minutes after Yannick Bestaven.

This drawn-out first leg will have been a real stuggle with light Northerly winds for the last four days. Food will have all but run out and tiredness taken over. There are still 53 Minis out there battling it out to the finish with Briton Simon Curwen poised to take fourth overall, and first non-French competitor position.

The next group in consists of leading lady Jeanne Gregoire on Aquarelle.com, Yves Le Blevec on Actual Interim, Briton BrianThompson aboard Lighthouse Life Foundation and David Raison on Nauti-Park/Navtec. In these conditions where big gains and losses can be both be made there is still everything to play for and the skippers will be racing right to the finish.

Nathalie Le Pen