Cheminées Poujoulat has passed the Kerguelen Islands as Bernard Stamm and Jean Le Cam continue to lead the Southern Ocean charge in the Barcelona World Race. The duo were just over 300 miles north of the largest island of Kerguelen at 1400hrs this afternoon.

This morning Neutrogena, one of the two leading boats of the Barcelona World Race, put on their cloak of invisibility and disappeared from the view of the competition and the public from 0900hrs UTC.

The motorway south to the Equator was opening up for the Barcelona World Race leaders this morning and British skipper Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss was back enjoying life in the fast lane. Speaking on the live video call today, when he was steering the VPLP-Verdier designed IMOCA 60 at more than 20kts in the brisk trade winds, the pleasure was written all over his face. His huge grin spoke volumes.

As if to underline their billing as pre-race favourites to win, Alex Thomson and Pepe Ribes on Hugo Boss led the eight-strong fleet of IMOCA 60s off the start line of the third edition of the Barcelona World Race, two handed race around the world. The British-Spanish duo made the best of the very light winds, setting up with speed at the gun, to eke out a small lead to the turning mark, 1.5 miles away from the line.