FORMER Weymouth pub landlord Jan Ridd is vying for first place in the Clipper round the world race.

The skipper of the 60ft yacht ‘Cape Breton Island’ is currently second in the fleet on the 4,700-mile race from Cape Town to western Australia.

If you take a look at the race viewer on www.clipperroundtheworld.com you will see the yachts lined up like sprinters in the starting blocks, poised to flydown the track.

The distance to finish figures belie how close the eight ocean racing boats are to the scoring gate at 55 degrees east and the curvature of the earth is not apparent on the map.

With approximately 500nm to the gate, the next two days will make for thrilling racing and the points to be won could go to any of the eight leading teams.

The crew of Spirit of Australia maintained their lead overnight with more upwind racing in 'wet and wild’ conditions.

It's no more comfortable or dry on Cape Breton Island, where they have spent another very cold night, heeled over and beating into Force 6 winds.

Skipper of the yacht Jan Ridd, 46, owned the Bar on the Corner on St Thomas Street, Weymouth before the call of the sea became too strong to ignore.

"We have just started to get lifted and are at present heading east again instead of north east, looking forward to being lifted some more so we can ease the sails and flatten the boat out.

“It is very cold with the wind chill and spray," writes Jan in his 0600report to the Race Office.

Jan is planning to leave the comfort of the nav station for a while: "I am going to stand a watch myself just to see what the crew are all moaning about," he added.

"Luke (Dampier, 19-year old student) keeps saying, 'Man up, chin up and shut up!' to anyone moaning about the cold!"

Uniquely Singapore's crew have their eyes firmly on the scoring gate points.

It follows a dramatic start line collision between two of the Clipper’s identical 10 boat fleet Cork and Hull & Humber on Sunday November 22.

None of the crews were hurt and but work had to be undertaken to repair both boats.

Cork is now back in the race but the damage to Hull & Humber is more extensive and requires more work.

With around 25,000 miles still to race in Clipper 09-10 and the rigours of the Southern and Pacific Oceans to come, safety is the number one priority and the surveyors must be satisfied with the strength and structural integrity of the repair.

Cape Breton Island is looking for a good result on this race to offset the disappointment of the last one.

Former Thomas Hardye student Andrew Jones, 37, is currently in third place on the yacht Uniquely Singapore where the crew have their eyes firmly on the scoring gate points.

The first boat through will take three points, the second two and the third one point.

Former Dorchester schoolgirl Lois Bickerton’s boat Qingdao is currently in eighth place in the race.

The fleet is due to arrive in Geraldton-Greenough, Western Australia, between December 14 and 18.