Vendée Globe

The leaders have finally got past the high pressure zone and are now making their way east towards the Cape of Good Hope. Seb Josse (BT shows the way. Seven boats currently within 60 miles — and another three within 200 — is the race set to restart, or have the leaders stolen a march on the rest?

For the leading bunch, the anticyclone which has dominated racing for the past days seems to finally be behind them, with the centre of the high currently to the north-east of the front group. Seb Josse (BT) is showing the exit route, currently heading on an easterly track, with Loick Peyron (Gitana Eighty) about eight miles behind him.
After the past week’s continual southerly sailing, the skippers still have to gain some miles to the south — the waypoint for the first gate is around 150 miles south of their current position — but as the front tracks east the skippers have picked up the first westerlies to make ground towards Africa.
Behind this leading duo there have been few major surprises. Mike Golding (Ecover, GBR) continues to follow their line in ninth place, about 65 miles back, while the main group of Yann Elies, Vincent Riou, Jean-Pierre Dick, Roland Jourdain and Armel Le Cleac’h are still tightly packed, just 25 miles apart.
Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux), who took the more easterly route, is now sailing south to try and converge with the leaders, whilst out on the west Safran (Marc Guillemot) is also heading south.
As the distances to the leader start to increase again among the first rank of challengers, it is the second half of the fleet who are currently gaining miles — the biggest wins yet again going to Bernard Stamm (SUI) who has posted another 300-plus mile 24 hours to overtake Unai Basurko (ESP), to move up to 19th. Rich Wilson (USA) has also overhauled the Basque skipper in this morning’s update. And in 25th place, Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Groupe Maisonneuve) has almost caught Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada).
Meanwhile, Raphaël Dinelli discovered yesterday afternoon that the cover of his mainsail halyard had separated from the halyard, rendering him unable to either hoist or lower the main — he currently has two reefs in. Fondation Océan Vital (22nd place) is currently heading for the island of Trindade, some 100 miles away, in order to try and carry out repairs safely in the shelter of the island. 

 

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