The strategy appears to have paid off for Loïck Peyron on Gitana Eighty as he resumes his leadership of the Vendée Globe. On the 1000hrs GMT positions schedule Peyron is now 11.2 miles ahead of Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) who has dropped to second, losing a little speed in his easterly position, with Seb Josse (BT) in third, 12.6 miles behind.
After making three or four gybes through the night, starting just 10 miles north of Sao Nicolao, sailing for just over an hour back to the west before gybing again to make his 20 miles leg through to the west of Sao Nicolau.
In the west the gains continue against the leaders for Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) who is fourth, leading the advance some 40 miles west of the islands. Dick and this group including Vincent Riou (PRB) and Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) – between 83 and 95.5 miles behind have all made similar gains on the leaders.
In eighth place Mike Golding, GBR, has continued to gain on the leaders. He is lining up with options to go west, or east of Sao Nicolao with Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) on his port side, about 33 miles to the east, and Yann Elies (Generali) about the same lateral distance and slightly forward of him. Golding has gained 4 miles on seventh placed Elies over the last four hours.
Brian Thompson, GBR, Bahrain Team Pindar, also continues to make miles on the leader, but his first target from 11th place is Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) who is more than 100 miles ahead in 10th.
Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) is making steady ground. She is slightly more west and has a more westerly slant than Thompson, who is 32.2 miles ahead and has made a small gain on Sam since the 0400hrs report. Dee Caffari, GBR, has built up her speed over the morning so far and has eased away from Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) to be 58.3 miles ahead.
In 19th place, Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) continues to make good his escape from the clutches of his Basque rival Unai Basurko, ESP, (Pakea Bizkaia) but he is just 2.6 miles ahead this morning.
