POOLE-based skipper Andy Woodruff stepped in at the 11th hour to lead Greenings to a thrilling victory in the second leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Woodruff, who replaced the injured David Hartshorn, guided Greenings on a journey of 3,000 nautical miles from Punta del Este, Uruguay to Cape Town, South Africa.

Incredibly, following a fortnight of racing across the South Atlantic Ocean, top spot was sealed by just 0.01 nautical miles.

The second-place Dare To Lead was the next boat home some 17 minutes and 45 seconds behind the victors.

Woodruff said: “I feel great about the race. It’s really good for the team after what they went through on leg one. This time they went out and crossed the South Atlantic to South Africa and won again so I think that says more about the team than anything else.

“It’s about keeping things simple and not working the crew too hard and having a good time. We pushed the boat when the openings came up and took advantage of the tactical situations which arose.”

It was a second straight stage win for Greenings, the crew also setting a Clipper Race record for the most distance covered in 24 hours after racking up 329 nautical miles on day nine.

Race three starts tomorrow and is from Cape Town to Fremantle in Western Australia.