The Maxi yacht Leopard is in a race against time to beat the course record for the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Leopard passed Lampedusa in a elapsed time of 41 hours and 29 minutes,

Rambler took 40 hours and ten minutes in 2007 to reach the same point.

Leopard has, however, been closing the gap on its virtual adversary and it is still very possible to set a new record for this race.

Further back, a battle rages for the overall winner on handicap with last year's line honours success Alegre trying to hold off the stellar crew on Luna Rossa in a titanic struggle. At Pantelleria Alegre were just seven minutes ahead of Luna Rossa, on corrected time.

In Class Two, Swan 82R Nikata had a fantastic leg along the top of Sicily and at 5 a.m. today the magnificent yacht was a long way ahead of their class. Nikata navigator, Mike Broughton contacted the race office to reveal the secret to their success.: "We are now charging along on a shy reach with the wind gusting up to 39 knots. Spirits are high, helped by top cuisine from Helen our South African chef."

The Nikata army obviously marches on its stomach!

In Class Three, Strait Dealer is having a fantastic race and is in pole position for the class. However Rosario Vannucchi's Fever with Andy Beadsworth and Wouter Verbraak in the afterguard pose the biggest threat.

In Class Four, Velado was the handicap leader passing Stromboli. The Sicilian yacht is competing for the first time in the Rolex Middle Sea Race but they have a proven record, winning the Syracuse-Malta offshore race this year.

One of the smallest boats in the race, Ricomincio DA 3 was second in class at Stromboli. Seawolf of Southampton are third.