The 10-strong fleet in the Whitbread Round The World Race are starting to feel the heat, and the pace of the yachts has dropped on the approach to the Cape Verde islands off the coast of North Africa.

Knut Frostad's Innovation Kvaerner still leads Merit Cup by 15 miles, and Paul Cayard's EF Language is a further 10 miles behind in third place.

The all-female crew of EF Education, currently bringing up the rear, 325 miles behind the leader, spent yesterday basking in the sunshine off the African coast.

"Sun tans are improving and some of the crew took their first saltwater showers of the trip," a crew member reported. 9915798