HAMPSHIRE skipper Ian Walker put his Volvo Ocean Race demons to rest today as he led his team to victory in the opening stage of the round the world race.

Walker's Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew crossed the Cape Town finish line at 3pm with a narrow two-mile lead over closest rivals Dong Feng.

The leg one win was a dream start for double Olympic silver medallist Walker, who is attempting to win the Volvo Ocean Race at the third attempt.

The previous two times he has competed, with Green Dragon in 2008/9 and with Abu Dhabi in 2011/12, the boats he has skippered have suffered major breakages.

But with all seven teams in the current race sailing identical 65ft boats, putting the emphasis back onto the skill of the sailors rather than the design of the boats themselves.

And Walker, from Warsash, snatched the opportunity to prove the capabilities of his eight-strong crew.

After setting foot on dry land for the first time since the race began in Alicante, Spain, on October 11, Walker praised his team for their skill and dedication in the opening leg.

He said: “I'm quite emotional – I didn't think I would be but I am.

“The last few hours Dong Feng threw everything at us.

“The other teams have been right on our heels for the last 10 days and the guys onboard really rose to the challenge so that was great.”

Dong Feng, a Chinese-backed team led by Frenchman Charles Caudrelier but run by Cowes' Offshore Challenges, were second across the line.

This afternoon Hamble's Sam Davies and Titchfield's Dee Caffari were was still around 400 miles from the finish on Team SCA, the first all-female crew to compete in the race in 10 years.

They are expected to arrive in Cape Town by the weekend.