Despite losing their gennaker 11 days into the the Transat Jacques Vabre race from Le Havre Team Group 4, co-skippered by Mike Golding and Ed Danby are racing at a sprint and confident of edging closer to the leaders as the finish line in Columbia looms ever closer.

Well past the half-way mark and now in the Atlantic Ocean, the Southampton pair have had more than their share of problems but with routing provided in house by Golding, are gaining ground.

From the boat Danby reports: "After changing to a code 5 gennaker, just as darkness fell we then had a very fast down wind sail, reaching speeds of 24-25 knots, in near perfect sailing conditions; full moon, warm sea and wind."

The pair had to cut a £6,000 sail away after the titanium head ring on the code 5 snapped and the sail tangled with the rudder.

Emma Richards and Miranda Merron on Pindar have also had their problems and have lost their lead in the Open 50 class after two gruelling days of problems.

The duo had appealed to race officals for permission to stop at Madeira before managing to repair their buckled rigging themselves.

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