For the third time since the start, the Bruno Peyron’s Orange II maxi-catamaran has hit a UFO. Once again, it is likely to have been a cetacean.

At the time of the collision they were traveling at 20 knots and it was the same rudder and the same port daggerboard which felt the shock. The crew is continuing on their way, but have slowed down for the time being. Having said that they are now almost nine days ahead of the outright record held by Steve Fossett and his crew aboard Cheyenne.

Team Orange II is currently 150 miles off Cabo Frio (the cape near Rio), and heading north eastwards towards the transition zone ahead of the St Helena trade winds that Bruno Peyron and his men should reach on Wednesday evening.

With a lead of more than 3,000 miles over the outright record – and 4,000 miles over the Jules Verne Trophy – the 14-man crew will be able to take their time to repair the damaged appendages without giving up too much of their lead.