Groupe Bel have just informed the Race Office that Kito de Pavant has been dismasted and has been forced to head back, probably towards Les Sables d'Olonne. As well as the mast breaking, the boom and one of the carbon deck spreaders is broken. Bel was positioned 260 miles from Les Sables d'Olonne.

Apologies but there is a short delay to the publication of the 2000hrs local/1900hrs GMT classifications.

Derek Hatfield on Algimouss Spirit of Canada is reported to now be the fifth skipper who is returning to Les Sables d'Olonne. He is the third citing some form of electrical problems as the reason to return to the start port.

"We can't wait for the front to arrive. Everything is very wet and we have 3 reefs and are sailing under ORC storm jib. There are some huge waves, the visibility is reduced and there are cargo ships all around. I took advantage of that to try out the radar. Several times, I had to stack the gear away. The stacking boxes tend to get thrown around right up to the ceiling. Everything is fine and I'm pleased to be at sea."

The skipper of Groupe Maisonneuve informed the race directors at 17h that he was heading back to Les Sables d’Olonne. He hopes to reach the harbour at around noon tomorrow (11th November). A deck panel was damaged in the bad weather. Jean Baptiste estimates that repairs will take two or three days.

Reminder: Vendée Globe rules stipulate that if they suffer damage, the competitors may only return to Les Sables d’Olonne to carry out repairs before heading off again. They must cross the start line by 13h02 on 19th November.

Thanks to the AIS tracker on the onboard computer, Cheminées Poujoulat's support team appear to have identified the boat with which Bernard Stamm collided. In fact, Stamm's team report that is is not to be a fishing boat, but an 80-metre long Maltese cargo vessel which is believed to be a freight carrier. According to reports the paint from the ship's hull side matches that left on the Open 60's hull side.