TWO major battles were taking place at the head of the Mini Transat race as at six o’clock on Friday morning.

Old Victorian Phil Sharpe remained three miles ahead of fourth placed Yves Le Blavec while the lead had changed place twice.

Corentin Douguet regained the lead after Sebastien Gladu had overtaken him yesterday afternoon.

They were neck and neck, but Douguet has pushed ahead and is now leading by a couple of miles.

While in third position, Sharp is pushing Le Gallais 419 hard on a starboard gybe, and is currently three miles ahead of fourth-placed Le Blevec.

These lead four boats can probably see their nearest rivals and this will no doubt, be spurring them on in the race to get ahead.

The next 24 hours will be crucial as the skippers jostle for positions as they near the finish of the first leg in Lanzarote.

Sharp is now 25 miles astern of the leader and has 266 miles until the finish He’ll be passing Maderia to the east later today.

The 24-year-old said before the race that he is ‘good at endurance tasks and staying motivated’.

This is what he needs over the next 24 to 36 hours in his pursuit to gain a top finish in the first leg.

Both the leader Douguet and Sharp’s top rival of the moment, Le Blevec, have competed in the Mini Transat before.