Vendée Globe

The Forties are not yet roaring, but the leaders have picked up good north-westerly pressure and are making fast progress towards the Cape of Good Hope. The 24-hour averages are climbing once again to the 300-mile mark, as the front half of the fleet dive south, then hitch east, south, then east, repeatedly, eating up the 900-odd miles to the ice gate.

Whoever is furthest south seems to consistently be in better pressure – leader Seb Josse (BT) is furthest south at the moment, and in the past hour his average VMG has crept to nearly 17 knots. Loick Peyron (Gitana Eighty) remains in pursuit, while Yann Elies (Generali) holds third and a more easterly line. Mike Golding is currently just north of the most closely bunched trio — Vincent Riou (PRB), Armel Le Cleac’h (Brit Air) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment).
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) and Dominque Wavre (Temenos, SUI) are trading places as they split gybes, Temenos is currently on port heading west, and has pulled back in front of Foncia, although Mich Desj’s relentless advances continue ith the second-highest 24-hour averages of the fleet. That honour remains with Bernard Stamm (SUI), who is powering ever closer to Jonny Malbon on Artemis (GBR), who is in turn gaining miles on Steve White (GBR) – but Cheminées Poujoulat is now looming about 45 miles over Malbon’s shoulder.
Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Groupe Maisonneuve) has also overtaken Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada), in this morning’s rankings (1000hrs GMT).
 

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