A 27-year-old yachtswoman is due finish the first gruelling stage of a single-handed round the world yacht race this weekend.

Emma Richards, who lives in Hamble in Hampshire, set off from New York on 15 September at the start of the 29,000-mile event.

Her 60-foot yacht is due to arrive in Brixham, Devon, on Sunday.

The next leg of the Around Alone race ends in South Africa, with the finish line in the United States next April.

Emma Richards: "I have a chance"

Speaking from her yacht, Pindar, Miss Richards said she believed the first stage was one of the most important points of the race.

She said: "It's really important because I know there's quite a lot of expectation on me.

"That's why I'm so pleased to have caught up a lot of ground and showed that I can live with the guys out there."

She hopes to arrive in fourth place at the end of this leg.

But said it was too early in the race to make any assumptions about her chances of victory.

She said: "Of course I have a chance.

"This race is not about placings but survival, and as long as you're in the race, you can still win it."

Miss Richards has two weeks to repair her yacht before the beginning the next leg of the race.

Swiss yachtsman Bernard Stamm leads the 12 other yachts at this stage.