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11:44 AM Sun 18 Jan 2009 GMT
In the Vendee Globe, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) has grown his lead to 421 miles this morning over Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement). Desjoyeaux has been averaging three knots faster than his pursuer.
Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water), ninth, has been sailing with no mainsail after his headboard is reported to have broken away from the sail.
Raphael Dinelli (Fondation Oc?an Vital) and Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) are still racing in perfect synch, one mile between them in terms to distance to finish.
The figures are indisputable, Michel Desjoyeaux's advantage grows by the hour. Averaging 16 knots this morning to his nearest rival's 12.2 knots, the Foncia skipper is marching further ahead all the time, with an ominously big lead now of 421 miles.
There will be some re-compression at the Doldrums when Mich Desj slows first, but even with the most of a Transatlantic race still to complete, many would consider that Foncia's lead is enough to allow the winner of the 2000-1 Vend?e Globe to perhaps sail a little more conservatively.
Behind the leader, the fleet is spread out from the coast of Brazil to the Pacific Gates. The furthest west, Rapha?l Dinelli (Fondation Oc?an Vital) and Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) seem to be sticking to their agreement to work together. One mile apart in terms of DTF, they are clearly matching each other at the same pace, even if this cautious approach is not going to offer them quick speeds, their goal is to finish in Les Sables d'Olonne, their home port where their Open 60's lie alongside each other. They have 200 miles to go to the West Pacific ice gate.
Eighty miles north of the Falklands, and about 50 miles behind Arnaud Boissi?res Dee Caffari (Aviva) is getting ready to patch her mainsail. A tricky operation as she will have to take her sail down to fourth reef, spread out the damaged surface in her cockpit and stick patches from one of her headsails over the damaged areas. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) is not short of jobs to do on board either and has issues with his wind generator and a burning smell from his engine - which he believes to be the clutch plates - to deal with in the gentler weather. Sailing under full mainsail and solent for the first time in weeks Sam Davies' maintenance programme on Roxy has kept her busy, but her jobs have been mainly routine: replacing splices and keep her pink Open 60 in fine fettle. She is in a complex sequence of light winds in the big high pressure zone, but continues to work industriously to keep going quick. Proof, as ever that to complete a Vend?e Globe, you need to be a mechanic, sailmaker, as well as being an expert in composites and electronics.
And Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) is sailing at reduced speeds as he makes his final 430 miles towards Cape Horn for the first time. White reported yesterday that his mainsail headboard car had parted company with the sail and is stuck at the top spreaders. He will wait until the sea state improves and the winds drop before attempting to retrieve it, but meantime he is still making a regular eight to nine knots average.
In tenth Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America II) had just 50 more miles to complete to get to the East Pacific gate but has been bounced around in rougher weather, and big cross seas - beam reaching in 6-7 metres of crossed seas. He reports he is very underslept but the breeze should ease and back to a more Westerly direction giving him some respite this afternoon.
0400 HRS GMT. Rankings
1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at 3695 miles to finish
2 . Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at 421 miles from first place
3 . Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) at 972 miles from first place
4 . Sam Davies (Roxy) at 1777 miles from first place
5 . Marc Guillemot (Safran) at 2124 miles from first place
6 . Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) at 2763.8 miles from first place
7 . Arnaud Boissi?res (Akena V?randas) at 2857 miles from first place
8 . Dee Caffari (Aviva) at 2905 miles from first place
9 . Steve White (Toe in the water) at 3773 miles from first place
10 . Rich Wilson (Great American III) at 5226 miles from first place
11 . Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport . Kapsch) at 6849 miles from first place
12 . Rapha?l Dinelli (Fondation Oc?an Vital) at 6850 miles from first place
RDG . Vincent Riou (PRB). 3rd
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by Vendee Globe media
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