Hampshire sailors are jostling for the lead in a tightly contested first leg of the Volvo Round the World Race in unpredictable conditions.

The fleet of seven boats competing in the 39,000 nautical mile race, which ends next June in Gotheburg, Sweden, are currently off the west coast of Africa having left Alicante in Spain on Saturday.

With less than 15 per cent of leg one complete – which sees them navigate to Cape Town on the southern tip of South Africa – the early tussle for the lead has seen the county’s sailors take turns at the head of the pack.

Southampton-born Ian Walker, skipper of Azzam Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, was in front today.

Walker, one of Great Britain’s most successful sailors and the only competitor to have an Olympic gold medal to his name, is joined by Hamble’s Simon Fisher, the navigator on board Azzam.

After two days it has turned into a battle of which navigator can find the best conditions, not just at present, but where they are best hours in advance.

“The fleet’s been inside out a few times,” said Fisher.

With the race likened to a game of snakes and ladders, he added: “I’m not sure about snakes and ladders – maybe snakes and snakes! It’s a similar game, but much more difficult,” he added.

Walker, while his boat was in the lead, was aware of the other competitors chasing Azzam.

“They’re visibly getting bigger,” he said. “There are boats all around us.”

On Monday, skipper Sam Davies, also from Hamble, led the all-women Team SCA to the lead through the Strait of Gibraltar.

She is joined by another Hampshire sailor, Dee Caffari.

SCA took a slightly northerly route, meaning they avoided strong currents and went ahead. But later sacrificed it to Team Vestas Wind.

Southampton-based Sam Goodchild has also been in the thick of the action. The Spanish MAPFRE boat he’s aboard held onto second place for a spell today.