Vendée Globe

As the fleet leaders drop progressively into lighter winds, falling into the transition before the next weather system, so Jean-Pierre Dick has been able to extend his lead overnight to 72.8 miles, the biggest leading margin yet of this thrilling Vendée Globe.

The leaders are now angled north-east towards the western end of the next ice security gate, less than 400 miles ahead.

With the advantage of leading Dick managed to stay with the stronger winds for slightly longer, making an extra two knots of boat speed over his nearest rival Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3), and doubling his lead over Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement),

The British skipper – who remains furthest south of the lead group – has gained as well to passing Jourdain to now have 19.3 miles in hand. 

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) is the only other skipper, in fourth, to be within 100 miles of Jean-Pierre Dick.

The former vet’s speed in the south continues to be impressive, racking up another 24h day of around 440 miles.

And as the ‘elastic cord’ extends so sixth placed Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) is now 192 miles behind and the 2004 winner Vincent Riou (PRB) is now 312 miles behind, the biggest deficits they have faced.

Bernard Stamm, SUI, (Cheminées Poujoulat) was just 70 miles to the entrance to the Bay of Morbihan, routing towards the Kerguelens to try and fix his rudder problems.

Brian Thompson’s, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) routing to the north of Kerguelens took him to within 30 miles of the north of the Islands, passing very close to the Cloudy Islands.  Sam Davies, GBR (Roxy) has passed Thompson now and is 14.3 miles ahead of her compatriot.  A combination of her solid strategy, steady sailing and profiting from the misfortunes of Wavre, Peyron and Stamm sees Davies up to 11^th.

There is still no let up in the engaging battle between Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) and Arnaud Boissières (Akenas Verandas). The French suitor to Caffari’s 14^th place has found that the British skipper’s 50 miles advantage remains impregnable.

Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) became the final skipper to enter the Indian Ocean, passing the longitude of Cape of Good Hope at 0540hrs this morning, nearly 3000 miles behind Jean-Pierre Dick. 

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