PORTLAND-BORN sailor Rich Mason has finished the second leg of the Solitaire du Figaro in 21st position.

This currently leaves him 22nd overall after both legs of the race.

The second leg consisted of sailing 540 miles from Plymouth to Roscoff, France, passing Fastnet Rock.

The wind was shifty and tactics important throughout the journey, Sam Matson (Artemis 21) was the first British skipper home, finishing the second leg 18th overall and third best rookie.

Matson lies in 14th place overall and is the top rookie.

On the approach to the Scilly Isles, Matson and Mason battled it out for the rookie position, with Matson just taking the win by 23 minutes.

Back on the docks, Mason said: “It’s quite nice to be second Brit. Sam overtook me though which was slightly frustrating.

“I’m happy that leg two is done with, that was always going to be the hardest one for me, lots of straight-line stuff that I’m not really that good at.”

The third leg of the race starts on Sunday, taking skippers 505 miles from Roscoff to Les Sables d’Olonne – home of the Vendée Globe.

Mason is looking forward to battling it out with Matson on the next leg and is hoping to reverse the positions of the previous one.

For updates from the race as it happens, visit the Artemis Offshore Academy website.