Intro:

The seven-strong fleet in the Volvo Ocean Race left the Spanish port of Alicante on Saturday (11 October) on the first leg to Cape Town in South Africa.

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The sailors in the Volvo Ocean Race said goodbye to their family and friends as the seven boats left Alicante in Spain on Saturday on the first leg.

The first leg from Alicante to Cape Town in South Africa is 6,487 nautical miles.

There are 16 nationalities represented in the seven teams competing. One of those being Team Brunel and they had the honour of leading the teams off.

In moderate but building breezes under an overcast sky following days of scorching weather, Team Brunel went off with another of the pre-race favourites Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and the rest of the fleet in hot pursuit.

One of those being Team SCA, an all female competing team.

The Dutch boat - Team Brunel - led by six-time race veteran Bouwe Bekking, nosed ahead after Team Alvimedica and Team SCA had made it quickest to the first pin.

By just after 1505, an hour into the race, it was still desperately tight with Brunel no more than a few hundred metres clear of Abu Dhabi, and MAPFRE third.

From Alicante, they will head for the Straits of Gibraltar and then out to the Atlantic.

The boats are expected to take about three weeks to reach Cape Town.