Alan Paris was in fourth place in his class as the Around Alone race began the long haul from South Africa to New Zealand.

The event is the longest on earth, covering 28,755 miles of the world's roughest and most remote oceans.

Setting out from Cape Town on Saturday at the start of Leg Three, competitors headed south to avoid the southwesterly flowing Agulhas current and the dangerous cross seas that unite at the lower tip of Africa and to take advantage of the prevailing westerly winds.

The route to New Zealand lies through the Southern Ocean, the only area on the world's surface where the waves can roll all around the globe without land getting in the way. This results in the longest swell and largest waves found anywhere on the planet.

At last check Bermudian Paris and boat BTC Velocity were 7,097 nautical miles from the finish of Leg Three in Tauranga.

Ahead of Paris in Class Two are leader Spirit of Canada, Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America and Spirit of Yukoh, while behind are Bayer Ascensia and Everest Horizontal.

Pocket win streak snapped

Pocket Change saw his 18-race win streak come to an end in a rather unusual way during harness racing at Vesey Street on Sunday.

The pony broke a hopple and trailed Bowtie's Pocket Watch and Taxi Dreamer to the finish line. However, Bowtie also won the second heat, edging out Pocket Change 1.1 to 1:11/.4.

Sixteen-year-old E.J.Carreira is the new owner of Shamrock Julie and they finished first and second in the 1:10/2 to 1:12/2 A Division time bar.

The new driver of Custom Eyes'd, Andrea Westerfield, guided the veteran mare to their first win, taking a heat in the Junior Free for All in 1:10/1.

Indian Creek Aries made quite an impression in her Bermuda debut. With Joe Viera in the sulky she won both her heats in a very fast 1:09/4 and 1:08/3. The win saw her move up to the Junior Free For All in her first race day in Bermuda.

Despite the heavy rain on Saturday night, the track was in good condition and conducive to fast times. Viera also drove his three-year-old Killer's Legacy to victory in a blistering 1:06/3.

Arthur Hurst's Abbe's M&M did the half mile in 1:08/4.

Chris Roque and Tuxedo's Bowtie again had the fastest time, winning the Free For All in 1:06/2.

Colby Sousa and his new pony, Ceramic Shamrock, are preparing well for next week's stakes races as they won their two heats in 1:08/1 and 1:10.

Racing continues this Saturday, post time 6 p.m.

Unbeaten Queen's stay top

The Queen's Club Knights remain top of the Camel Pool League with an unbeaten record going into the Christmas break.

With four of their five players in the top ten of the individual standings they have a good hold on the lead, although Warwick Workmen's I have registered only one loss.

Queen's Club Knights will meet Warwick Workmen's I after the break and that result will be watched by Mariners Club, Vasco, Hamilton Parish I and their home team rivals, Queen's Club Kings, as a loss by either team and a hard fought match with average individual scores could change the standings considerably.

Mariner's Club are in third with Vasco, HP I, and Queen's Club Kings tied in fourth waiting to take advantage of any mistakes at the top. Match play resumes on January 9.