Abu Dhabi managed to stem the flow of miles lost to their rivals yesterday as the fleet continued its headlong rush across the Atlantic towards Lisbon in leg seven of the Volvo Ocean Race.

With all six teams’ average speeds hovering around 20 knots during the night, by early morning the Emirati team, skippered by Britain’s two-time Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker, had 954 nautical miles to run and had locked their lead over second-placed Puma (United States) to 31 nautical miles.

Walker said with smooth seas and not too many sail changes, the conditions were very easy on the crew as they ate up the miles to Lisbon at an average speed of 20 knots.

“Our plan is to rest people up while the going is easy so that we have fully-charged batteries for what will certainly be a frantic last 36 hours. If that means everyone on deck then so be it... there will be time to rest in Lisbon later on this week.

“If anybody in Miami had offered us even a one-mile lead with 1,000 miles to go we would have gladly taken it.”

Further back, the chasing bunch had divided into two finely balanced, head-to-head scraps, with Groupama (France) and Camper (New Zealand-Spain) both just a jot over 50 nm from the lead in third and fourth, and Team Telefonica (Spain) and Team Sanya (China) separated by five nautical miles in terms of distance to the finish.

Telefonica are in danger of losing the race lead they have held since November.

The Spanish boat won the first three offshore legs but both Puma and Camper can overtake them if they finish three places ahead.

“There will be chances to catch up but we need those chances to arrive soon,” said Telefonica’s Jordi Calafat.

“It has been a strange leg but there will definitely be opportunities for us to come back.”

The race ends in Ireland on July 7.

Overall standings
1. Telefonica (Spain) 165 points, 2. Groupama (France) 158, 3. Camper (Spain/New Zealand) 152, 4. Puma (United States) 151, 5. Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) 74, 6. Team Sanya (China) 27.