Vendée Globe

Loïck Peyron continues to bank a steady dividend from being in front, moving through the difficult ridge, the speed of Gitana Eighty has picked up knot again and the breeze will continue to build for him first.

The leaders are expected to see 2-3 knots more breeze than their immediate pursuers, sailing in ENE’ly winds, 10-15 knots, which the top trio may see peak at 18 knots.
They seem likely to pass through the Cape Verde islands tonight, depending on their choices with regard to wind shadows versus acceleration effects between the islands.

Seb Josse (BT) is back up to second place, which he last held early on Friday morning, moving progressivly from the west to cross Peyron’s wake, trying to get a little more east where the breeze appears to be a little stronger.
Josse’s margin at 30 miles behind Peyron is static on the last sched, while Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2)  and Vincent Riou (PRB) have lost 10 and 14 miles respectively as Peyron’s lead grows.

Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) has dropped to 10th from 9th, losing to Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) inside, slightly to his east, but the difference between the two is negligible.
Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos 2) has gained to 13th from 14th, passing Arnaud Boissieres, and is 41.6 miles behind Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY), but losing about 3 miles to Sam on the last sched, complaining this morning of light winds.

Wavre said: “ Very little wind and what there is tends to be erratic. I’m under big gennaker and mainsail.  After being becalmed during the night, got going again, but held up again early this morning.  Trade winds seem to have disappeared.  Everything is tidy in the boat, but he hasn't had much time to look after himself, so taking ten-minute naps. Tiring for the nerves, as so frustrating in this weather. A difficult exercise psychologically.  A lot of reflection necessary all the time.  Being Swiss doesn't really help either as very different boat from those that sail on lakes.  The three leaders must have worked hard and are now benefiting from their efforts. Determined when he restarted with a clear goal, which is still the case.”

Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) is now about 28 miles behind Dee Caffari, GBR, Aviva, but he has seen Jonny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) taking miles from him, now 11.7 behind White. That is an improvement of 25 miles, White just blogging just now ‘who switched the breeze off?’

Mich Desj (Foncia) remains the quickest in the fleet, making 12.4 knots average overnight and about 13 over the last sched, making a one mile advance to the leader!

Derek Hatfield, FRA, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) is having his patience tested by light winds of the Portuguese coast making just 2.2 knots average.
 

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