Vendée Globe

This Saturday night and the drag race to the Australian ice gate goes on, unrelenting, unremitting with Jean-Pierre Dick sustaining his 40 miles cushion.

Mike Golding’s push on the southern route keeps him dicing with Roland Jourdain who has gained about two miles to his north, tailing the runaway Paprec-Virbac.

All three of the leaders were still averaging over nineteen knots, while all of the top six boats have posted 24h runs in excess of 400 miles.

Consider that at the lower end of the fleet they are making between 250 and 323 miles and the gap between the front and the back is accelerating.

One week ago there were ten boats within100 miles of the lead. Seven days of brutally intense Indian Ocean Racing – spanning the loss of one mast, one keel damaged and, today, badly malfunctioning rudders – and there are just four boats chasing within 100 miles of the leader.

Of the second wave group chasing at 200-290 miles behind Yann Eliès and Marc Guillemot have gybed twice recently, while behind them Brian Thompson is routing to stay north of the Kerguelens, explaining today that he was seeking to avoid the centre of the low pressure system, but meantime he has dropped 80 miles to Sam Davies who has been well to the south of him,

And by tomorrow we should have all of the fleet into the Indian Ocean, including a relieved Norbert Sedlacek on Nauticsport-Kapsch, who should have passed the point he had to retire in 2004.

Meantime, our weekend re-cap of what happened in the Indian Ocean during the period equivalent to next week, during the last race. Plus ca change…..

Monday 13th December 2004 Jean-Pierre Dick suffers another problem with his gooseneck fitting, but is able to carry out repairs

Tuesday 14th December 2004 Riou grabs the Les Sables-Cape Leeuwin race record held until then by Michel Desjoyeaux

Wednesday 15th December 2004 Nick Moloney capsizes in the Indian Ocean and thinks he just has time for a farewell message., so is surprised to see his Skandia right herself.

Thursday 16th December 2004  Riou, Le Cam, Golding, Josse and Jourdain are at the front within 247 miles of each other

Friday 17th December 2004  A crack appears in Roland Jourdain's keel head forcing him to abandon the race

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