Vendee Globe leader expected early Monday at Cape Horn

10:27 AM Fri 2 Jan 2009 GMT

'Veolia EnvironnementJEAN MARIE LIOT / DPPI / Vend?e Globe' Vendee Globe 2008 &copy

Michel Desjoyeaux at the head of the Vend?e Globe fleet for 17 days leads the fleet towards Cape Horn. Desjoyeaux leads by just under 70 miles from Roland Jourdain. While Sam Davies lies sixth but has encountered a ridge of high pressure during last night and spent some hours almost becalmed.

Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy), complained that there was not much wind during the night, while 2000 miles ahead of her, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) is back in the Fifties having to contend with the usual strong winds and cross seas. For once, his speed at 04:00hrs was dictated by this, and even worth noting is that the slowest of the five front runners averaging just 11.6 knots, while those directly behind him were still happily sailing along at 16 knots.

We might therefore see the gaps narrowing in the next few hours. Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) and Vincent Riou (PRB), remain joined at the hip, and having passed the last Ice Gate are also now heading down towards Cape Horn. The pair are still joined by a 30 miles line. Le Cl?ac'h crossed the final gate at 03:30hrs GMT, more to the east of Riou, who crossed an hour earlier.

With Desjoyeaux slowing down the first boat is now due to round the Cape on Monday morning after 56 or 57 days of sailing - around the same time Jean Le Cam took in 2004, but this time the course is 1160 miles longer.

Jean Le Cam in third place has had a good night, pushing hard to consolidate and is quickest of the top five this morning. At current speeds he is about 24hours behind the leaders, but may lose more miles at Cape Horn. Current weather models show the leading pair escaping on the tail of the system they are on, while Le Cam may, ironically, lose out at the notorious Cape.

While Davies was left wallowing in a light winds, doing all she could to wriggle Roxy free, Marc Guillemot (Safran) was making the best speed of the fleet and closed 74 miles on the British skipper, 212 miles behind. Both have yet to hear from the international jury as to what their respective redress will be for diverting to help Yann Eli?s, but decisions are expected soon.

Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) has been working hard to stay with the weather system he is riding and has been making good speeds overnight, now in ninth place with 250 miles to go to reach the SW Pacific security gate, whilst Dee Caffari, GBR (Aviva) is about 50 miles ahead of Arnaud Boissi?res (Akena Verandas), but she had a weed issue last night which cost here a little time. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) has been making good average speeds, averaging 13 knots overnight.

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

1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) 8152.5 miles to finish
2. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at + 69.5 miles
3. Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) at + 336.1 miles
4. Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) + 599.2 miles
5. Vincent Riou (PRB) + 616.2 miles
6. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 2007.4 miles

Selected International
8. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 2492.9 miles
9. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 2705.7 miles
11. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 3538.1 miles
12. Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 4335.9 miles
13. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) at + 4419.9 miles
14. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) at + 5458.8 miles

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Vendee Globe leader expected early Monday at Cape Horn

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