Bristol Clipper is expected to sail into Cape Town today, under the flat top of Table Mountain, and take a win in this leg from Mauritius.

Bristol’s finish may have been agonisingly slow but that has been no surprise to the locals in the Royal Cape Yacht Club who are waiting to greet them. They have seem many races drag out as the strong winds give way to the calms and even right at the finish line the Cape Peninsular will play tricks on the yachts that dare go too close to the lee of the high mountains.

But Bristol is not today’s only story. At the eastern end of the fleet London Clipper is finally enjoying better conditions and is rejoicing at the arrival of a decent SE wind. Finally she is on the move and well positioned in the strong Agulhas current and so hopefully her fortunes will start to change.

Liverpool and Glasgow Clippers have been having a duel for days and swapping positions but the Scots seem to have played a blinder by staying further out to sea. Ed Green (Glasgow skipper) is doing a classic hook manoeuvre and charging down the coast on the current while others have been becalmed inshore. Glasgow Clipper is now well south of the others, but still going strong and could end up by sailing past several of the other boats. Their big decision will be when to bid farewell to the friendly current and cross the Agulhas bank.

Portsmouth Clipper must hope that their well-deserved second place is safe, but thereafter nothing is certain. The boats are spread out, the conditions are changing and there are lots of local effects to amuse and trick them.

Most of the fleet should have arrived by the end of Thursday, with the tail-end of the fleet due to finish on Friday.