In between the simple routine of just keeping their boats at maximum speed in the right direction, and picking their way as best they can, there is a certain quiet satisfaction underpinning the efforts of the top three duos in the IMOCA Open 60 fleet as these Transat Jacques Vabre leaders set themselves up to break into the Caribbean.

That is not to say that any of them have already accepted their position now will be the same when they cross the finish line off Costa Rica's Puerto Limon, but with the gap between leader Safran and second placed Groupe Bel grown by 20 miles to 81 miles early this morning, and the margin between Bel and Mike Golding Yacht Racing, in turn 82 miles, then each feels they have breathing space which they perhaps did not expect this morning.

In theory they should have done enough. The leading trio of the Transat Jacques Vabre race from Le Havre to Costa Rica, Safran, Groupe Bel and Mike Golding Yacht Racing have a substantial cushion to fourth, and seem set to scrap over who wins which step on the podium, but there will still be some nervous hours ahead and the weather forecasts are none too stable.

The trio, the two French leaders and Britain's third placed Mike Golding who is racing with Spain's Javier Sanso on Mike Golding Yacht Racing, will tomorrow be first to hit a wall of lighter, even more unsettled breezes and compression – as the chasing pack catches miles back on them – is predicted to continue periodically for the next couple of days.

The margin back from third to fourth, to double-Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux, is now 270 miles with less than 2000 miles to go.

A little stability in the weather on the conveyer belt south towards the Costa Rica destination and west and the Transat Jacques Vabre intensifies. Gone are the dark days of high stakes strategies, big losses and gains. Now it is more about the tight games, the little boat-for-boat duels, the competitive clusters, the mid-fleet posses slugging it out for the odd mile here and there.

As the front of the IMOCA Open 60 fleet counted down past half way today the gains of Groupe Bel stabilised. Whether Kito de Pavant and Francois Gabart's ‘laughing cow' can still prove the smiling assassins who bring down Safran remains to be seen. The Groupe Bel twosome's gains have stabilised this afternoon at 26.3 miles as the pair line up more or less bow to stern on the straight line for the Dominican Republic milestone into the Caribbean.

Following speculation on the BBC TV Politics Show about the possible disposal of the British Waterways (BW) property portfolio, BW released a statement yesterday, November 16. We print the statement in full below:
 
‘There has been speculation around the possible disposal of British Waterways’ property endowment in England and Wales ahead of the Pre-Budget Report.

The UK government decided earlier in the year, following a Treasury-led review, that British Waterways’ 1,400 canalside properties should not be sold.

The government has also said it keeps all assets under review in the light of current public finances.

As Safran lead across their theoretical half way point of this Transat Jacques Vabre from Le Havre to Costa Rica and life has become considerably easier for the IMOCA Open 60 crews and the remaining Multi50 duos, the days of sunshine and trade winds sailing may be pleasant but the pace is still intense right down the fleets, seeking every small gain, trimming more accurately and hand steering as long as possible.

Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier top the IMOCA Open 60 standings by just 23.3 miles this morning, with Kito de Pavant and Francois Gabart on Groupe Bel gaining ten miles since the same time yesterday morning. A third of their lead devoured, Guillemot remarked yesterday that his preference is normally to do the hunting rather than be hunted.