MADRID: Sino-Irish entry Green Dragon on Tuesday took the lead from Sweden's Ericsson 4 on the fourth day of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world.

But one of the pre-race favourites, Spain's Telefonica Blue, remained in last place about 80 nautical miles (148 kilometres) behind the leader after an enforced stop to repair a broken rudder soon after the start.

Green Dragon, skippered by British Olympian Ian Walker, was at the head of a breakaway group of five yachts on the first leg from the Spanish Mediterranean port of Alicante to Cape Town, South Africa.

Ericsson 4, captained by another Olympian, Brazil's two-time gold medallist Torben Grael, and which had led from the start on Saturday, was second, ahead of the US entry Puma Ocean Racing, Sweden's Ericsson 3 and Spain's Telefonica Black.

With winds of 18-20 knots, the eight yachts are heading southwest toward the first 'scoring gate' at the island of Fernando de Noronha, off Brazil.

The boats are expected in Cape Town on November 3.

After 37,000 nautical miles, the finish line is in St Petersburg, Russia, where the teams are expected in June 2009.

Each of the yachts receive points according to their position in each of the 10 legs. Half points are also awarded at seven scoring gates along the route and for the seven 'in-port' races.

On October 4, Telefonica Blue, skippered by Dutch veteran Bouwe Bekking, took an early lead in the competition by winning the first of seven in-port regattas.

Positions as of 1600 GMT Tuesday:

1. Green Dragon (IRL-CHI)/Ian Walker (ENG) 5,790 miles from Cape Town

2. Ericsson 4 (SWE)/Torben Grael (BRA) 6 miles behind

3. Puma Racing (USA)/Ken Read (USA) 9 miles

4. Ericsson 3 (SWE)/Anders Lewander (SWE) 10 miles

5. Telefonica Black (ESP)/Fernando Echavarri (ESP) 14 miles

6. Team Russia (RUS)/Andreas Hannakamp (AUT) 64 miles

7. Delta Lloyd (NED)/Ger O'Rourke (IRL) 67 miles

8. Telefonica Blue (ESP)/Bouwe Bekking (NED) 77 miles

- AFP/de