The first decision in the Ocean Race Europe is imminent: The favourites are in front, Offshore Team Germany is fighting

The winds seem to be with the leaders: The favourites remain in front on leg one of the Ocean Race Europe premiere. Even though they made a detour to the south on Tuesday afternoon to avoid the currently still active flat band off the Portuguese coast, they kept their fields under control.

In the fleet of seven VO65 yachts, the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team dominated the field three days after the start last Saturday. Behind them, Bouwe Bekking's "Sailing Poland" and the AkzoNobel Ocean Racing team with skipper Chris Nicholson put the pressure on - almost on a par - with a gap of around 20 nautical miles. Although the red lantern at the back of the pack still hangs in the stern of The Austrian Race Project, the Austrians were only three nautical miles behind "Viva México" on Tuesday afternoon.

In the somewhat smaller field of Imocas, Charlie Enright's 11th Hour Racing Team took the top spot ahead of "LinkedOut" with skipper Thomas Ruyant and "Bureau Vallée". Behind fourth-placed "Corum L'Épargne", Offshore Team Germany was able to significantly reduce its previous deficit of more than 80 nautical miles. Only 60 nautical miles behind the best in class, skipper Robert Stanjek and his crew are fighting for every metre on the only non-foiler in the Imoca field. With around 250 to 300 nautical miles remaining to the harbour, the "Einstein" quartet is hoping for further opportunities to attack in the competition with rivals on younger generation boats.

Without foils, the German Imoca yacht from 2011, which is still being prepared for the installation of underwater wings, was clearly inferior to the competition even before the start of the race. By making good use of their own opportunities so far, the Stanjek crew of Annie Lush, Benjamin Dutreux and Phillip Kasüske have managed to keep in touch with the front runners in such a way that there may still be a surprise in the final phase of the first leg with a possibly flatter finish. The fastest boats are expected to arrive in Cascais on Wednesday afternoon. Click here for the live tracker (please click!).