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8:57 PM Fri 28 Nov 2008 GMT
Yesterday evening the BT skipper wrestled the lead off the masterful Lo?ck Peyron, only for Peyron to inch ahead in this morning's rankings. But it looks like Josse has learnt a few tricks from the grand master himself, as today's tactics saw Josse head first from the east of the pack towards the south-west, staying in the best of the breeze, then tack back to position himself at the front of the fleet, pulling directly ahead of Peyron and third-placed Armel Le Cleac'h (Brit Air).
This close-quarters manoeuvres led some skippers to say, 'It's like racing in Quiberon Bay' today - after 19 days and almost 5,000 miles of sailing they are still neck and neck, to be expected during a coastal race maybe, but not an ocean marathon.
The leading nine remain within 50 miles as they dive dead south - all except Jean Le Cam, currently showing fourth in this evening's rankings, who has taken a south-easterly course of 117 degrees. Whether this is a brief response to a squall, or a strategy to head straight for the Cape of Good Hope - currently some 1,600 miles away, we can only wait and see.
Behind the front-runners the game appears simpler - climb as many miles on the boats in front as possible, with Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) and Dee Caffari (Aviva, GBR) both gaining over 60 miles from yesterday, and Jonny Malbon (Artemis, GBR) taking over 100 miles out of the front runners' lead.
But the boat that's clocked up the most miles since the last position report (at 10:00hrs GMT) Steve White (GBR) in the venerable Toe in the Water, who is also showing the current fastest VMG (position update at 15:00hrs GMT).
Bringing up the rear of the fleet, Jean-Baptiste Dejanty - who restarted from Les Sables d'Olonne after a week of repairs - crossed the Equator this morning, putting all 25 racing skippers in the southern hemisphere.
News from the Boats
Vincent Riou (PRB), in sixth place, 10.6 miles from the leader in a message to his shore team.
'I'm under staysail with two reefs in the main. Feeling relaxed. We're not going to change our way of doing things. It's perfectly logical what is happening ahead. It will be stable again for a few hours, then another compression as we enter St. Helena. I'm sticking to my route. This morning I had a huge squall. The wind is getting up again and the seas are confused again. I think we'll be back to two reefs shortly. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, what with adjustments to ensure the boat keeps moving, and it will be time for a clean up for the boat and me. It will be one of the final opportunities to take a shower before we hit the south. Afterwards, it will be too cold, so you put off washing for as long as possible.
Steve White (Toe in the Water)is in 17th place, 657 miles from the leader, sailing at the latitude of Espirito Santo.
'Last night I was about to do some filming and send a blog when the mother of all squalls came through. We broached, and I dealt with it in the usual manner and went back downstairs. Ten minutes later there was a sickening bang, the boat came upright, and there was a papery rustling sound which was my gennaker, or two bits of it. The bolt rope had broken, which meant the sail took all of its load, and the head pulled off it. Not a big repair, but in an important place. It took ages to get it back on deck, it is quite a big thing on your own at roughly twenty five metres by twelve by twenty three! It did not want to go into it's bag either, but I couldn't leave it loose on deck! The only problem is it is about three feet around at the moment, so it won't go down the forehatch. The worst of it is in between the squalls it is the sail I really need at the moment. I delayed putting it up as it is eight or nine years old, and I didn't want to obliterate it in a squall which is precisely what I did. Poor old sail, but it will live again.'
Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada)is in 24th place this afternoon 1483 miles from the leader. Here is an extract from his daily message:
'More upwind work on the south side of the line. I crossed the equator last night at 21:42 UTC. With the head winds, I'm headed a little bit too much west for my liking but tomorrow the wind should back a little to allow me more south heading. Upwind is difficult sailing in an IMOCA 60 as the boats are wet on deck and the motion is random at best. Inside the cabin is hot so not sure where is left other than the cuddy just outside the door.'
Vendee Globe - Friday, 16:00 HRS GMT. Rankings, (FRA, unless stated)
1- Seb Josse (BT) at 19626.2 miles to the finish
2- Loick Peyron (Gitana Eighty) + 6.4 miles to leader
3- Armel Le Cleac'h (Brit Air) at + 14 miles to leader
4. Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) at +14.6 miles
5. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment) at +22.7 miles
Selected International
9- Mike Golding, GBR, (ECOVER 3) at + 46.2 miles
11- Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 190.5 miles
12- Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos 2) at + 206.4 miles
13- Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 240.7 miles
15- Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 394.4 miles
17- Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 639.2 miles
18 - Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 720.6 miles
19- Unai Basurko, ESP, (Pakea Bizkaia) at + 758.2 miles
20- Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America III) at + 846.7 miles
22- Bernard Stamm, SUI, (Chemin?es Poujoulat) at + 902.6 miles
23- Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) at + 1284.1 miles
24- Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 1483.2
by Veronique Teurlay
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Cape Byron, NSW
