Crew ready for pirates and winds

“Incidents of piracy are very rare but we have to take prudent precautions,” said Race Director Justin Taylor.

“The greatest challenge here will be the range of weather and navigational challenges as the fleet initially crosses ‘cyclone alley’ to the north of Australia and then negotiates the many islands en route.”

The ‘Londonderry’ skipper Sean McCarter won’t be deterred even by the threat of pirates.

Speaking on Sunday he said: “We are currently 115 north, north east of the town of Bundaberg made famous by Australia’s exported whiskey tasting rum.

“We have about 700 miles away from the Scoring Gate just south east of Papua New Guinea and can see OneDLL is hot on our heels again. Watch this space.”

Leg 5 from Brisbane, Australia to Qingdao in China is 7000 miles long and is split into two races via Singapore.

It will take eight weeks to complete. It will reach Qingdao in early March following a stopover in Singapore between February 8-15.