Leaders Ericsson 4, skippered by Brazilian Torben Grael, will be bidding to extend their advantage after setting out from Willingdon Island, the modern port area which serves Kochi.

In stifling heat and accompanied by a five to seven knot north-westerly, the 88-strong field set off at 1530 local time (6pm Singapore time).

After negotiating the southern tip of India and passing Sri Lanka the crews will speed towards the Malacca Strait, then close in on Singapore following the obligatory passage north of Sumatra.

Half an hour after the start American team Puma Racing led the field ahead of Spain's Telefonica Blue and Ericsson 4 of Sweden.

Ericsson 4 is hoping to reinforce its overall lead having won the first two stages of the race. Telefonica Blue is second overall with Puma Racing in third.

Despite being the shortest stage of the race, at 1,950 miles, the changing conditions - and the reported threat of pirate vessels in the Malacca Strait - means it could be incident-packed.

'We've really got no idea what this stage will be like,' said Ian Walker, the skipper of Chinese-Irish boat Green Dragon. 'I wouldn't like to make any predictions.' He added: 'We will hit strong currents and come up against a number of vessels but above all fishing boats and their nets.' Greal said it would make for a 'tricky stage'. 'It will be quite difficult,' he added.

At least the teams have had several days to recharge their batteries in Kochi, where conditions have been notably hotter than what now awaits them.

Temperatures will drop off still further once the vessels head out from Singapour to Qingdao in China in the fourth stage.

The race, one of the most arduous in sport, will end in St Petersburg, Russia, in June after nine months negotiating 10 stages over 37,000 nautical miles at sea. -- AFP