#VOR - All seven teams in the Volvo Ocean Race have crossed the Doldrums into the Southern Hemisphere as they make tracks towards Cape Town on the first leg of the 12 edition.

And for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's onboard reporter Matt Knighton - the only one of the fleet never to have crossed the Equator before - there was time for a fishy initiation as per Royal Naval tradition, welcomed by 'King Neptune' as a true 'Shellback'.

Abdu Dhabi can afford a little time out for fun, as they emerged from the Doldrums at the front of the fleet, sailing south towards Fernando de Noronha off the coast of Brazil with a six-nautical-mile lead on nearest rivals Team Brunel.

Team Vestas Wind aren't far behind, either, just 34 miles distant, while the rest are beating across the South Atlantic at an average of 16 knots, some change from the calms of the Doldrums.

But as the pace picks up, so do the conditions at sea. As the Volvo Ocean Race website reports, it's now time for "full foul weather gear, helmets and goggles" to protect from the impact of bigger waves.

The full fleet of seven are expected to have passed their Brazilian waypoint by tomorrow morning, with the next stop being South Africa some 3,300 miles and 12 days away.