13:15 GMT update

PUMA still lead the main offshore group, as the sea breeze starts to fade – ten knots or less for everyone now. Ericsson 3 and Telefonica Blue have made a move further offshore, but it doesn’t seem to have paid, and they have slipped back. Team Russia’s inshore route is giving them an advantage on the leaderboard, as they are closer to the course south, but it remains to be seen whether that converts into a real advantage on the water. The whole fleet has tightened together, less than three miles between PUMA at the front, and Green Dragon at the back.

But you can now see all this for yourself, the Data Centre and Race Viewer are open for business.

So that’s it from the blog – Mark Chisnell will be here with the TEN ZULU at the regular time tomorrow morning, with the full analysis of the first day’s racing.

12:15 GMT update

The sea breeze is still holding up, but starting to veer (rotate anti-clockwise) and now blowing out of the north-west, at 8-11 knots. Everyone has made a move offshore, allowing the leading pack of four to consolidate their grip on the race. PUMA still lead from Ericsson 4, with Ericsson 3 now nosing ahead of Telefonica Blue. Telefonica Black are in fifth, leading Team Russia, Delta Lloyd and then Green Dragon – but there’s nothing much in it, less than four miles between the front and back of the fleet.

11:30 GMT update

The fleet are reaching down the coast in an eight to 10 knot west-northwesterly sea breeze. PUMA still have a narrow lead from Ericsson 4, Telefonica Blue and Ericsson 3 - less than a quarter mile between the four of them.

Trailing that group on the same line but over a mile behind are Delta Lloyd, in sixth place. It's Telefonica Black that hold fifth, sailing about a mile further inshore than the leading bunch, with Green Dragon a mile behind them. The Dragon is duelling for last place with Team Russia, who are the furthest inshore, just a mile off the beach.

10:30 GMT update

The third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, a step into the unknown, began in 7 knots of NW breeze in Cochin this morning. As the fleet embarked on its 1950nm passage to Singapore, it was PUMA who had eked out a slight advantage soon after the gun.

Downwind start, stately slow progress

At the favoured pin end, Green Dragon got off to the best start with Telefonica Black and Team Russia close on her heels.

PUMA, Telefonica Blue and Ericsson 4 crossed the start at the committee boat end and made their way to the middle of the course. Within 10 minutes they had overhauled the quick starters and formed the leading group.

Behind them a squabble was already developing between Delta Lloyd and Ericsson 3, and half an hour after the gun, Team Russia had dropped to the tail, suffering in these light conditions.