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10:47 AM Sat 3 Jan 2009 GMT
As the Southern Oceans deliver their final challenges to the leaders, Michel Desjoyeaux on Foncia has again expanded the rubber band that connects him to the rest of the fleet and pulled slightly further ahead overnight to lead by nearly 75 miles.
Behind him Bilou (Veolia Environment) and Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) have been making good speeds, but with 270 miles still separating the duo.
The closer contest is currently between fourth and fifth, with Vincent Riou (PRB) leapfrogging Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) in the rankings overnight to take fourth, just under 20 miles between the two.
Behind them in sixth Sam Davies (Roxy, GBR) is also sailing pedal to the metal, after her frustration yesterday when she was stuck in some relative calms (everything is relative in the Roaring Forties). Roxy has clocked up the fastest boat speed in this morning's position report, at 18 knots as she attempts to shake off Safran (Marc Guillemot) - more of a personal target than a long-term ambition, as Marc will be benefiting from additional redress time for going to the aid of Yann Elies.
So, what is Mich Desj's secret? Before the start the rumour-mill was humming with speculation on how the skipper of Foncia had been extremely attentive to the adjustment of his autopilots during the preparation phase of the race. But he has also suggested that Foncia carries a sail that is particularly well suited to the Southern Oceans: a staysail specially designed for heavy weather sailing, which he should be putting away once he has rounded Cape Horn. It is believed that this creation is the 'perfect sail', which can be used when the wind reaches 30 knots, right up to when it goes beyond 50, with no need to furl it.
Whether this 'perfect sail' exists, or is a little more gamesmanship in the tactical contest at the front of this Vend?e Globe, may well have to wait until the fleet return to Les Sables. For other boats in the fleet - particularly Dee Caffari on Aviva (GBR, 9th) and Jonny Malbon on Artemis (GBR, 12th) having the perfect sail is the least of their worries. Both are currently suffering delamination to their mainsails in the heavy southern ocean conditions.
Good news for retired competitor Derek Hatfield (Algimouss Spirit of Canada, CAN), who reached the coast early this morning, reporting:
'I've just made landfall on Maatsuyker Island, one of the outer islands on the south coast of Tasmania. I have to round South East Cape and Bruny Island before heading up Storm Bay to Hobart. The landfall here has been a bit nerve-wracking as yesterday my GPS started operating sporadically and I have been expecting it to go down. Now that I've made landfall I feel much better. It will be a long night of motoring up Storm Bay but I am looking forward to getting ashore.'?
Vendee Globe ranking - 05:00 HRS GMT (FRA, unless stated)
1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at 7743.1 miles to finish
2. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at + 74.9 miles
3. Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) at + 409.2 miles
4. Vincent Riou (PRB) + 679.8 miles
5. Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) + 696.5 miles
6. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 2074.7 miles
Selected International
8. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 2601.1 miles
9. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 2829.8 miles
11. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 3646.9 miles
12. Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 4554.2 miles
13. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) at + 4611.2 miles
14. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) at + 5667.8 miles
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