Vendée Globe

Swings and roundabouts it may be, with small gains and losses as the leading pack position and reposition themselves for the Doldrums crossing, at the present time the strategy is conservation and consolidation

Trying to stay in contact with the group as much as possible. In the fleet this size, as the likes of Seb Josse and Mike Golding have both said recently, the actual placing on the leader board is kind of academic, what is important is not to be out of touch with the leading group as they enter and leave the Doldrums. That is when a small deficit very quickly becomes a large one.

On the 1000hrs GMT standings this morning the lead has swung back to Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) who is closest to, indeed, virtually sailing down the rhumb line just now.
He is judged to be 1.3 miles ahead of Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty). Seb Josse (BT) remains in third 26.5 miles behind Le Cam.

The advance of the western group, Dick, Riou and Le Cléac’h seems to be on ice again, Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) is now 32 miles behind, not changed much from the early sched, although Le Cléach (Brit Air) has made six miles in fifth, increasing his separation from Vincent Riou (PRB).

Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover) has dropped to eighth for the moment. He has just spoken of  long night with many sail changes trying to maximise speed as the breeze dropped and shifted. But, he said, he has picked up speed this morning with 14-15 knots of boat speed having gybed back to head more south, on the making slant, again.

“I had a really rubbish night, very random, but I am going better now. At the moment it is about staying in touch. You have good days and bad days. In fairness I feel I did the right thing through the Cape Verdes. Now I am back making 14-15 kts SW.” said Golding this morning.

“The doldrums are certainly a bit of a mess ahead, but the maxim is pretty much if in doubt that west is good.”

Brian Thompson, GBR, looks to have taken a bit of a hit in terms of miles to the leader making west now after the Cape Verde Islands, on Bahrain Team Pindar, but is moving well again at over 11 knots.

Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos 2) has stolen Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY)’s 14th place, moving past over the last schedule leaving Sam in 15th, while the advance of Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia), who is still eating up the miles, making 15.4 miles average VMG in 19th place.
 

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