Vendée Globe

Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy), complained that there was not much wind during the night, while 2000 miles ahead of her, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) is back in the Fifties having to contend with the usual strong winds and crossed seas

 For once, his speed at 0400hrs was dictated by this, and even worth noting is that the slowest of the five frontrunners averaging just 11.6 knots, while those directly behind him were still happily sailing along at 16 knots.

We might therefore see the gaps narrowing in the next few hours. Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) and Vincent Riou (PRB), remain joined at the hip, and having passed the last Ice Gate are also now heading down towards Cape Horn.  The pair are still joined by a 30 miles line. Le Cléac’h crossed the final gate at 0330hrs GMT, more to the east of Riou, who crossed an hour earlier.

With Desjoyeaux slowing down the first boat is now due to round the Cape on Monday morning after 56 or 57 days of sailing - around the same time Jean Le Cam took in 2004, but this time the course is 1160 miles longer.

Jean Le Cam in third place has had a good night, pushing hard to consolidate and is quickest of the top five this morning. At current speeds he is about 24hours behind the leaders, but may lose more miles at Cape Horn. Current weather models show the leading pair escaping on the tail of the system they are on, while Le Cam may, ironically, lose out at the notorious Cape.

While Davies was left wallowing in a light winds, doing all she could to wriggle Roxy free, Marc Guillemot (Safran) was making the best speed of the fleet and closed 74 miles on the British skipper, 212 miles behind. Both have yet to hear from the international jury as to what their respective redress will be for diverting to help Yann Eliès, but decisions are expected soon.

Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) has been working hard to stay with the weather system he is riding and has been making good speeds overnight, now in ninth place with 250 miles to go to reach the SW Pacific security gate, whilst Dee Caffari, GBR (Aviva) is about 50 miles ahead of Arnaud Boissières (Akena Verandas), but she had a weed issue last night which cost here a little time. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) has been making good average speeds, averaging 13 knots overnight.

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