Less Than 5 minutes Separate BP Explorer, Spirit of Sark and Imagine. It. Done

The next three yachts have finished with a staggering 4 minutes 57 seconds separating BP Explorer, Spirit of Sark and Imagine It. Done. (fifth, sixth and seventh place respectively) after more than 7,000 nm in the longest leg of the race.

Drama at the end was at an all time high when BP Explorer cut crossing round an island too tight and ran aground. "We saw Spirit of Sark get closer and closer and closer," explained BP Explorer's jubilant skipper, David MELVILLE, "but we managed to pick up a gust that took us off and we managed to get through."

"We feel like we've won,' explained David as he sat cuddling baby son Jasper, in the glare of Boston's press and the commotion outside of the Boston Harbour Hotel, which they managed to time right at the start of a busy Monday morning.

BP Explorer finished at 13.05.28 GMT, followed by old rivals, Spirit of Sark at 13.07.00 with Imagine It. Done. at 13.10.25

Depending on the outcome of any race protests BP Explorer is now in the overall lead with BG SPIRIT, both with a total of 61 points.

Skipper interviews with David MELVILLE, Duggie GILLESPIE and Dee CAFFARI will be posted in due course on the event website.

Team Stelmar is the next yacht due to arrive at the Boston Harbour Hotel, their current ETA looking at 21.00 GMT.