HAMPSHIRE skipper Ian Walker was last night embroiled in a three-way tussle for the lead of the Volvo Ocean Race as the first leg reached its halfway point.

Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew were neck and neck with rivals Team Vestas Wind and Team Brunel at the front of the seven-strong fleet after around 3,000 miles of racing.

Each team was waiting desperately for the right windshift to come to allow them to turn 90 degrees and head to the finish line at Cape Town.

Walker, from Warsash, said: “These are nervous times onboard Azzam as we play with fire on the edge of the high pressure area.

“High pressure means light winds, and the closer you are to the centre, the lighter the winds will be.

“Brunel tried to cut the corner the most and if they have overdone it they will now pay the price.

“We are next closest. Then there’s Vestas, who made a huge effort to get west and will now reap the rewards - the question is whether those rewards will ultimately outweigh the costs.

“We are positioned between our two closest rivals and we are still the furthest south but I am not looking forward to the next 200 miles as this plays out.”

Meanwhile Sam Davies' Team SCA were last night bringing up the rear of the fleet, tailing Abu Dhabi by more than 300 miles.

The Volvo Ocean Race started in Alicante, Spain, on October 11.