Vendée Globe

The 1000hrs GMT update shows Gitana Eighty, skippered by Loïck Peyron has extended his lead by about 10 miles over the period since the last scheduled position report, with Seb Josse (BT) now in second, duelling with Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2), 4.1 and 4.2 miles behind.

And the advance of Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) continues. Closer to the east, running the rhumb line, Le Cam has closed distance to the leaders, making a steady gain amounting to about four miles over the same period.

But Le Cam is pointing nearly directly at Madeira and will have to avoid it’s wind shadow.

Roland Jourdain in fourth reported a gennaker wrap last night which slowed him, while he sorted it out, and admitting that he took it easy trying not to repeat the mistake.

Those chasing the leaders have a nearly impossible task on their hands meantime, since the front runners are into the consistent, stronger breezes first and therefore extending away a little for the moment.

Ecover 3 (Mike Golding) makes good speed in 11^th, but will be checking his rear view mirrors for a former co-skipper of his, Brian Thompson, who seems to be slowly winding up Bahrain Team Pindar. The powerful Juan K design is now knocking out some impressive averages among the enclave of boats around him.

Sam Davies (ROXY) has made a move west, diverging from Dee Caffari (Aviva). The pair of British girls crossed gybes yesterday evening. Caffari is 13^th, Davies 15^th. ROXY gybed earlier today and is steadily converging back towards the rhumb line.

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