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11:56 AM Wed 17 Dec 2008 GMT
After taking the Vendee Globe lead yesterday morning Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) shows no sign of simple consolidation. The 2000 Vendee Globe winner is more than one knot quicker on every count than his three leading rivals, making gains against them of more than 15 miles overnight.
The leaders crossed the longitude of Australia's Cape Leeuwin last night, Desjoyeaux at 0730hrs GMT, fourth placed Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) at 0035 GMT (estimated times).
Propositions that Michel Desjoyeaux might somehow ease off on the accelerator now that he has seized the lead of the Vend?e Globe seem empty rhetoric. He has taken on the role of the locomotive engine pulling the other competitors along at speed. Roland Jourdain issued a call for reason yesterday, but it has fallen on deaf ears.
The gang of four have now broken away from the chasers with a gap of more than 200 miles developing over Jean Le Cam and Armel Le Cl?ac'h. Jean-Pierre Dick is heading north-eastwards at 90? from the route in the hope of repairing his starboard rudder. It is going to be a tricky operation, perhaps even with echoes of Yves Parlier's legendary feat.
Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) is looking for a haven and was making north at 5-6 knots this morning. David Adams, the safety consultant for the Vend?e Globe in Australia has informed the authorities in Fremantle and Hobart (Tasmania), but he is believed to be seeing how efficient his jury rig is and how much north he can make before making a decision where to head for. Dominique Wavre, SUI (Temenos II) has departed the Kerguelen Islands this morning having made a fix to the head of his keel.
Passing the second great cape, Cape Leeuwin, early yesterday evening Michel Desjoyeaux shows no let up in the pace, gaining all the time at the head of the breakway gang of four. As the leaders angle SE again towards the next ice gate, set much further south at 52 deg, Foncia is 26 miles ahead, gaining 15.2 miles overnight on second placed Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), more than 23 miles on Seb Josse (BT) and 6.7 miles on Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?rieaux). Foncia passed Cape Leeuwin at 0730hrs, Veolia Environnement about one hour later, BT at about 2320hrs, and VM Mat?riaux
The second group continue their battles. Armel Le Cl'eac'h (Brit Air) leads this group but is now 284.2 miles behind the leader and conceded another 30 miles overnight. Vincent Riou (PRB) shows no outward sign of being spooked by hitting a growler two nights ago and is about 22 miles behind Le Cl?ac'h while Marc Guillemot (Safran) and Yann Eli?s (Generali) are still tracking less than 15 miles apart.
In tenth and eleventh Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) continues to hold off Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) matching each other for speed overnight. Davies was 107 miles ahead last night and is 106.7 miles ahead this morning. The new SW'ly breeze is just hitting Thompson early this morning before Davies and so he might gain.
Similarly Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva) has been resolute in her desire, pushing hard to keep Arnaud Boissieres, (Akena Verandas) behind her. She has been slightly quicker this morning, while Steve White, GBR (Toe in the Water) makes steady speeds some 90 miles north of the Kerguelen Islands.
0400hrs HRS GMT. Rankings, Tuesday 16th December 2008
(FRA unless stated)
1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at + 13460.6 miles
2. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at 26 miles
3. Seb Josse (BT) at + 69.9 miles
4. Jean Le Cam (VM Mat?riaux) at + 72.9 miles
5. Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) +284.2 miles
Selected International
10. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 921.2 miles
11. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 1401.8 miles
12. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 1401.8 miles
14. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 1824.9 miles
15. Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 2314.3 miles
16. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) at + 2391.2 miles
17. Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 2678.3 miles
19. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport.Kapsch) + 3239.2 miles
Chemin?es Poujoulat loaded on the Marion Dufresne
Chemin?es Poujoulat has now been successfully loaded aboard the supply vessel Marion Dufresne. Bernard Stamm is on board, and is said to be relieved, but tired. The boat is due to leave the Kerguelens shortly according to the government representative, Fr?d?ric Martineau.
Temenos II on her way to Australia
In an e-mail sent this morning to the race directors, Fr?d?ric Martineau, the government representative on the Kerguelens confirmed that Dominique Wavre set sail this morning at 05.15 UTC. The Swiss sailor set out 'feeling much happier and pleased with the new part, which will allow him to move his keel slightly, thus enabling him to feel much more confident about the next few days of sailing as he makes his way to Australia. '
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by Vendee Globe media
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