Vendée Globe

Passing Heard Island it is Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac II) who remains clear leader of the Vendée Globe, chosing a more southerly course through the channel between the Kerguelen islands archipelago and Heard Islands.

Passing Heard Island it is Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac II) who remains clear leader of the Vendée Globe, chosing a more southerly course through the channel between the Kerguelen islands archipelago and Heard Island. Gaining 8.5 miles on those in pursuit of him, Dick has been marginally quicker overnight than Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) who is still locked in battle royal with Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) and Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3). After a high speed, difficult overnight passage in confused, big seas and gusty winds of 35 knots there is still just 3.6 miles of difference between Desjoyeaux, third placed Jourdain, Mike Golding in fourth. In turn a gap from fourth to fifth placed Seb Josse (BT) of 36.8 miles is opened.

While Desjoyeaux, with Josse in his wake, has chosen to pass closer to the Kerguelen Islands, Dick with Golding and Jourdain in pursuit have a line closer to Heard Island.

Making 411 miles over 24 hours up until 0330hrs GMT this morning, Dick is not far out from the race record of Roland Jourdain set in 2004 at 438 miles. With winds to 40 knots and more set for the next couple of days, and a white hot battle raging at the front of the fleet then at least Dick’s 411 miles seems likely to be bettered.

Vigilance for ice is a constant factor, sapping mentally and physically, adding to the constant nervous tension. Jonny Malbon, GBR, battling through 40-45 knot winds, huge seas and raining ice on Artemis II reported seeing an iceberg at 0330hrs last night some four miles away from him. The iceberg was some 400 metres long and 60-80m high. Malbon has twisted his ankle during a difficult night.

Within the race, in the middle of the fleet, the race is no less demanding and no less intense. The three way fight between Yann Eliès (Generali), Marc Guillemot (Safran) and Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos II) continues with Wavre – who held the race 24h speed record in 2000 – faster by two knots than ninth placed Eliès.

And Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) has just eight miles in hand over Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat). Routing 120 miles north of him, Thompson looks like he might pass north of the Kerguelens.

Ends

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