Vendee Globe: Chasing pack close on Desjoyeaux

8:29 AM Tue 23 Dec 2008 GMT

'Vendee Globe 2008 - 2009 Britair - Armel Le Cl?ac'h' Benoit Stichelbaut DPPI Click Here to view large photo

The group chasing Michel Desjoyeaux have been waiting for an opportunity to gain after the past few days' drag race - could this be it?

Foncia, along with second-placed Veolia Environment, is currently being slowed by a high pressure zone which has been building to the east of Campbell Island. What's more, things look set to get no more straightforward for the leaders, with a low pressure system in the Cook Straits moving towards the south. So, after this morning's calms, there is a risk of strong north to north-easterly or even easterly winds developing. The approach to the New Zealand gate could yet see some tactical manoeuvring.

Instead, this morning sees the biggest gains going to fifth and sixth-placed Armel Le Cl?ac'h and Vincent Riou, with favourable winds of around 25-35 knots enabling each to put in over 400 miles in the past 24-hours. Their pace is now not far off that of Desjoyeaux - Brit Air's tally of 434.6 miles is nearing Foncia's best run of 466.6 miles earlier this month, at an average speed of 19.44 knots, just fractionally slower than the current monohull 24-hour record of 468.72 miles set in 2003 by Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss. After a quiet period last night, things are also picking up for S?bastien Josse (BT) and Jean Le Cam (VM Materials) in third and fourth.

Further back in the fleet a second ridge of high pressure seems to have been making things tough for Sam Davies (Roxy, GBR), with sub-10 knots of pressure at some points during the night. Just 80 miles to her south-west, near rival Marc Guillemot (Safran) has now picked up his pace after easing speed yesterday to attempt repairs. The duo should soon be picking up more wind as the next low pressure system rolls across to bring stronger westerlies, as will Dee Caffari (Aviva, GBR) and Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar, GBR) behind them.

Of the retired skippers, Jean-Baptiste Desjanty arrived safely in Port Elizabeth, South Africa this morning on his Groupe Maisonneuve, having retired on December 16 due to problems with halyards and autopilots.

Vendee Globe rankings - 05:00 HRS GMT. (FRA, unless stated)

1 - Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at 11339.5 miles to the finish
2 - Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment) at + 56.9 miles to leader
3 - Seb Josse (BT) at + 187 miles
4 - Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) at +211.8 miles
5 - Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) at + 404.8 miles

Selected International

8 - Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 1521.1 miles
10 - Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 1852.9 miles
11 - Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 1924.9 miles
13 - Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 2522.7 miles
14 - Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 2986.9 miles
15 - Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America III) at + 3072.2 miles
16 - Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 3211.7 miles
18 - Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) at + 4051.1 miles

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Vendee Globe: Chasing pack close on Desjoyeaux

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