Brasil 1 in action off Cape Town

Skippered by Torben Grael and second overall after the first leg from Spain, Brasil 1 started fastest in the five to eight knot winds in the bay.

Overall leaders ABN AMRO ONE, under the leadership of Mike Sanderson, made a sluggish start in the calm conditions.

The second leg of the gruelling race is considered the most difficult of all.

The course takes the fleet through the treacherous Southern Ocean and 6,100 nautical miles to Melbourne.

"It is a very windy, wet and wild part of the world," Sanderson said prior to the start.

"Throw in some icebergs, some growlers (small floating icebergs) and a couple of Russian fishing fleets and it is an obstacle course that will provide some interesting weeks and some very nervous times."

ABN AMRO ONE leads the race on 15 points with Brasil 1 on 12.5 points.

The leading boats are expected to reach Melbourne in 15-20 days.

Points are awarded on the seven in-port races and nine legs.

After Melbourne the fleet stops off in Wellington, Rio de Janeiro, Baltimore, New York, Portsmouth, Rotterdam and Gothenburg.