THREE south coast sailing teams were last night vying for the top spot in the latest stage of an epic round the world race.

Hampshire teams Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Team SCA were in first and third place respectively after four days of racing in leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Isle of Wight-run Dongfeng Race Team were in fourth – with just one mile separating them from the frontrunners.

The six-strong Volvo fleet left Itajai in Brazil on Saturday bound for Newport, Rhode Island.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, led by Warsash round the world veteran Ian Walker, top the overall leaderboard after two wins, two seconds and a third from five legs.

The team was given a last-minute boost when comedian Dom Joly joined them for the leg start, athletically jumping from the boat before it got too far from port.

But after a few days of intense racing, the crew’s onboard reporter Matt Knighton said the proximity of the other teams meant everyone onboard was on full alert.

He said: “Never has sailing in a straight line been so tedious.

“Like a group of children all running towards an invisible chocolate bar in the east, we watch each other for any flinch, any slight change in course that would upset the group.

“The herd mentality – that’s what we’re calling it.”

Dongfeng, based in Cowes, went into leg 6 sat firmly in second overall – but with seven points separating them from Abu Dhabi, the pressure was on the south coast crew.

Dongfeng were winning leg 5 until their mast broke – and just 48 hours into leg six they suffered a further setback when their watermaker, which turns sea water into drinkable water, stopped working. They have now turned to their emergency manual water maker until they can get the primary one up and running again.

All-woman crew Team SCA, skippered by Hamble’s Sam Davies, are in sixth overall with three last-place finishes.