Seb Josse (BT) continues to lead Vendee Globe

7:56 PM Wed 12 Nov 2008 GMT

'Seb Josse (BT)' Vendee Globe 2008 &copy

Seb Josse (BT) continues to lead the Vendee Globe by a slender 4.1 miles on the 18:30h GMT rankings, consolidating now from his easterly position. As the pair close he will know soon if he has enough on second placed Jean Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) to hold his slender lead which shrank by five miles as Dick gybed.

The advantage has been with those in the west, Josse, and Jean Le Cam (VM Materiaux) whose is now fifth. Mike Golding (Ecover 3) is the best of the British pack, 11th, gaining about nine miles on the leaders.

Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) arrived back in Les Sables d'Olonne early this morning and had his damaged boat lifted out of the water. He has pledged to continue his Vend?e Globe if his boat can be repaired before the start line closes 12:02GMT, Wednesday 19 November.

Skirting the Azores high pressure system Seb Josse (BT) has held the lead that he established on this morning's positions as he seeks to bank some of his gains from the easterly routing that has yielded him slightly better breeze.

Chasing hard down that same flank Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) has broken into the top 5, gaining six places since yesterday's equivalent report. Le Cam, on the 2004 Lombard design, was still the most easterly boat of the leading group which spans more than 60 miles of lateral separation.

The chasing pack have gained miles on the lead group who unfold their strategies, those in the west, closest to the high pressure system following the contour of the isobars, while those closer to the Portuguese coast sail the more direct route, but can only gybe later.

Pursuing the all-French leading pack Britain's Mike Golding on Ecover 3 in 11th gained 9.4 miles on Josse between 09:30hrs and 14:30hrs GMT.

18:30 GMT rankings Wednesday 13th November.

1- Seb Josse (BT) 22865.7 miles from finish.
2- Jean Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) +4.1 miles from the leader
3- Lo?ck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) +8.2 miles from the leader
4- Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) + 18.6 miles from the leader
5- Vincent Riou (PRB) +28.1 miles from the leader

Selected international:

11- Mike Golding, GBR, (ECOVER 3) + 57.9 miles from the leader
12- Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) +62.4 miles from the leader
13- Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) + 64.6 miles from the leader
14- Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) +72 miles from the leader
16- Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) +114.9 miles from the leader
17- Dominic Wavre, SUI (Temenos II) +118.0 miles from the leader
19- Jonny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) 179.3 miles from the leader
20- Unai Basurko, ESP, (Pakea Bizkaia) 193.3 miles from the leader
21- Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America III) 203.4 miles from the leader
22- Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) 317.6 miles from the leader

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Seb Josse (BT) continues to lead Vendee Globe

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