Trinitaine ran into trouble on the third day

Gautier, MacArthur and the three other crew members made a perfect start, setting the pace as the eight trimarans left Cherbourg.

At the end of the first day, Foncia had built up a lead of 35 miles from Franck Cammas's Groupama, with all boats making rapid progress.

But it was not all plain sailing, and two of the eight boats were forced to return home on the second day.

Jean Le Cam's Bonduelle pulled out when a pulley broke free and smashed a 12-inch hole in the hull.

Earlier, Layou Roucayrol's Banque Populaire returned home due to mast damage, but stayed in the race until the fifth day.

There was further drama on the third day, as six crew members were winched to safety after Marc Guillemot's La Trinitaine had its daggerboard ripped from the starboard outrigger.

That left just five boats competing, and Ellen MacArthur's Foncia slipped back to third place later in the third day after being forced to stop sailing to carry out mast repairs.

Bayer took the lead, but midday through the fourth day, Foncia had cut the gap back to 6.6 miles.

The boats became embroiled in an intense strategic duel, racing clear of Groupama and Belgacom, as the leaders turned from home around the Azores.

As the winds died, Foncia briefly took the lead at the start of the sixth day.

Wind shortage

But Groupama, benefiting from turning the Azores half a day later and finding windier conditions, then took the lead for the first time, with Bayer back in third.

With the wind almost negligible, the four leaders became closely grouped.

MacArthur likened the tactical tussle to roulette, as Groupama stayed narrowly ahead until the ninth day.

As the race passed through the Straits of Gibraltar almost in slow motion, Belgacom moved into the lead.

Bayer reclaimed the advantage the following day as the boats progressed at less than 10 knots.