LONDON - Bermuda's entry in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001, Team Tyco, was lying in second place yesterday, a day after the fleet set off from Southampton on the south coast of England.

Skippered by experienced New Zealander Kevin Shoebridge, Team Tyco was estimated to be some three miles behind the Swedish entry, Team SEB, with Gunnar Kranz at the helm.

Eight boats left on Sunday on the first of the nine legs, a 7,350-nautical mile trek to Cape Town which is the longest and tactically most challenging in the race.

By 1300 GMT yesterday, SEB, who were first over the Royal Yacht Squadron start line, had extended their lead to three miles over Team Tyco. Pre-race favourites, Illbruck Challenge, were back in third.

Amer Sports One, skippered by New Zealander Grant Dalton, led for the first hour of the race, but then dropped back to fourth.

Dalton is sailing a Frer-designed boat, one of only two boats in the race not to opt for a Farr design.

SEB and Illbruck opted for different tactics than the rest of the fleet overnight, taking a more south-easterly course which moved them closer to the French coast before heading into the Atlantic.

Djuice Dragons skipper Knut Frostad, whose boat was taking a more westerly course along with Amers Sports Too, Assa Abloy and Team News Corp, admitted that progress was slow because of a lack of wind.

"This morning the wind died and all the boats crossed the ridge entering a new low pressure system," he said.

"We're all sailing around in three to five knots of wind."

Mishap has already struck the all-female crew aboard Amer Sports Too. Just after the start, they suffered a torn spinnaker, prompting a hasty change of sail.

"The boat feels really good and we were really keyed up. But spinnakers rip. At least we can repair it," said skipper Lisa McDonald.

The boats are expected to arrive in Cape Town sometime around October 22.

From there the race heads to Sydney, Auckland, Rio de Janeiro, Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, La Rochelle and Gothenburg before it ends in Kiel, northern Germany in June next year.