Brasil 1 has only just returned to the second leg

Skipper Torben Grael said the mast broke in three places but maintained no-one had been injured.

"The mast broke after what seems to be a fitting failure at the lower end. No decision about retiring from the leg has been taken," he said.

Meanwhile, Pirates of the Caribbean has rejoined the race after stopping for repairs to a damaged keel ram.

Pirates was forced to abandon the first leg between Vigo, Spain and Cape Town because of damage suffered in the opening 24 hours of the race.

The yacht suspended racing on 16 January after passing through the Eclipse Island scoring gate and picking up a crucial further two points.

All the crew are safe and sound and we're still in the process of cleaning up Brasil 1 skipper Torben Grael

The team is currently fifth overall.

Brasil 1, which was forced to return to Cape Town for repairs to fix a damaged hull, is currently last of the six boats that remain in the second leg to Melbourne.

The damage occurred when the yacht was sailing downwind, with 18 knots of wind under clear, sunny skies

Grael says the yacht will attempt to sail the 1,500 miles to Southern Australia's Eclipse Island for repairs.

"All the crew are safe and sound and we're still in the process of cleaning up and salvaging as much material as possible," he added.

"And because of the clement weather conditions we are trying to salvage the final top section of the mast, if we're successful this would mean that all pieces have been salvaged.

"Once this has been completed we will make a jury rig and sail in the direction of Eclipse Island, which also happens to be our nearest landfall."

ABN Amro One is leading the leg and is expected in Melbourne on Friday.

ABN Amro Two is second, with Movistar third and Pirates fourth.

Team Ericsson Racing Team is being shipped to Melbourne after pulling out of the second leg with keel problems.

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.