Keep a watch on `The Race'

The duo of epic ocean races under way at this off-peak season is providing thrilling entertainment for armchair and Internet sailors alike. As the no-holds-barred, French-conceived "The Race" dives south from its start off Barcelona on the last day of 2000, the solo sailors of the Vendee Globe are ploughing through the icy wastes of the Southern Ocean en route to Cape Horn.

Already, The Race is providing drama. Interest has been fuelled by the high-profile collapse of Pete Goss' British entry Team Phillips. Of the six boats to reach Barcelona for the prevent checks and preparation, a second British entrant failed to start due to qualification delays.

Tony Bullimore's Team Legato will have to rely on his legendary determination to make up ground on the fleet that started almost 24 hours earlier. As a boost to his prospects, however, is the upset to the expected running order among the five maxi catamarans.

Already, Round Ireland speed sailing record-holder and pre-race favourite Steve Fossett on Playstation has pulled into Madeira for repairs to their rigging and to take on replacement sails. Whitbread Race veteran Grant Dalton, on Club Med, trails the leader, Cam Lewis on Team Adventure, which, at 110 feet is one of the "smaller" boats competing.

The Race is expected to last less than two months by which time the fleet will be merging with the solo sailors of the Vendee Globe. These monohull boats have a more established following, and although two boats are effectively eliminated from the event that doesn't permit any stop-over or outside assistance, this fleet of almost 20 boats is halfway across the Southern Ocean.