Propositions that Michel Desjoyeaux might somehow ease off on the pedal now that he has seized the lead of the Vendée Globe seem empty rhetoric for the moment. He is taking on the role of the locomotive engine pulling the other competitors along at speed. Roland Jourdain issued a call for reason yesterday, but it has fallen on deaf ears.
The gang of four have now broken away from the chasers with a gap of more than 200 miles developing between Jean Le Cam and Armel Le Cléac'h. Jean-Pierre Dick is heading north-eastwards at 90° from the route in the hope of repairing his starboard rudder. It is going to be a tricky operation, perhaps even with echoes of Yves Parlier's legendary feat.
Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) is looking for a haven and was making north at 5-6 knots this morning. David Adams, the safety consultant for the Vendée Globe in Australia has informed the authorities in Fremantle and Hobart (Tasmania), but he is believed to be seeing how efficient his jury rig is and how much north he can make before making a decision where to head for. Dominique Wavre, SUI (Temenos II) has departed the Kerguelen Islands this morning having made a fix to the head of his keel.
Passing the second great cape, Cape Leeuwin, early yesterday evening Michel Desjoyeaux shows no let up in the pace, gaining all the time at the head of the breakway gang of four. As the leaders angle SE again towards the next ice gate, set much further south at 52 deg, Foncia is 26 miles ahead, gaining 15.2 miles overnight on second placed Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), more than 23 miles on Seb Josse (BT) and 6.7 miles on Jean Le Cam (VM Matérieaux). Foncia passed Cape Leeuwin at 0730hrs, Veolia Environnement about one hour later, BT at about 2320hrs, and VM Matériaux
The second group continue their battles. Armel Le Cl’eac’h (Brit Air) leads this group but is now 284.2 miles behind the leader and conceded another 30 miles overnight. Vincent Riou (PRB) shows no outward sign of being spooked by hitting a growler two nights ago and is about 22 miles behind Le Cléac’h while Marc Guillemot (Safran) and Yann Eliès (Generali) are still tracking less than 15 miles apart.
In tenth and eleventh Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) continues to hold off Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) matching each other for speed overnight. Davies was 107 miles ahead last night and is 106.7 miles ahead this morning. The new SW’ly breeze is just hitting Thompson early this morning before Davies and so he might gain.
Similarly Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) has been resolute in her desire, pushing hard to keep Arnaud Boissieres, (Akena Verandas) behind her. She has been slightly quicker this morning, while Steve White, GBR (Toe in the Water) makes steady speeds some 90 miles north of the Kerguelen Islands.