Jean Le Cam (FRA) and Bruno Garcia (ESP) make steady progress towards Santo Antao in the Cape Verde islands after losing their mast yesterday evening on Président. At the front there has been another small increase in the lead of 17 miles overnight.

 

The leading duo’s speeds have slackened very slightly since yesterday morning as the breeze has dropped back from the 25 knots of yesterday to around 16-17 knots of today. Virbac-Paprec 3 holds 68 miles in hand over Foncia this morning, but there is also a tiny compression as the pack chasing them have gained some five miles or so overnight.


Virbac-Paprec 3 is now some 400 miles SW of the Cape Verde islands.
Mapfre and Renault ZE Sailing team have been the night’s fastest boats, both averaging 17 knots.

Jean Le Cam and Bruno Garcia are getting some rest as they make for the Cape Verde islands, after having made 34 miles since they tidied up what remained of the rigging of Président and set off under engine, bitterly disappointed. They had around 40 miles to go and were making between three and four knots.

The industry of the Spanish pair Iker Martinez and Xabi Frenandez sees their Mapfre – the former Foncia - within two miles of fourth placed Mirabaud in terms of distance to finish. In fact Mapfre have Dominique Wavre (SUI) and Michèle Paret (FRA) almost alongside, some nine miles to their east. And Mapfre have closed another nine miles on third placed Estrella Damm.

As the leading Spanish boat of Alex Pella and Pepe Ribes, rolls down into the slowly slackening breeze first, heading towards the Doldrums, then we can expect to see their Spanish rivals close up more. Mapfre are very much in hunting mode with the podium in their sights. In one day they have closed 55 miles of the 100 miles difference between the two, but that said the previous morning at the same time the delta was closer to 60 miles. Such is the concertina effect of the leaders moving into a strong band of breeze then lighter.

Groupe Bel’s Kito de Pavant (FRA) and Sébastien Audigane (FRA) have had a good night, pushing hard on the flying, ‘laughing cow’. Their more westerly position has helped them against Neutrogena. Ryan Breymaier (USA) and Boris Herrmann (GER) have now got a slightly less profitable angle, more open as they come more west to pass the islands, and so have lost their sixth place now to Groupe Bel.

GAES Centros Auditivos are now about 80 miles to the NNW of the Cape Verdes and were making good progress this morning, even if their pace has dropped a little this morning, especially compared to Renault ZE Sailing Team. Toño Pires (ESP) and Pachi Rivero (ESP) are making 17.5 kts this morning.

Of the next group Central Lechera Asturiana have had to invest in some westing after being very close to the African coast, just 20 miles off at one point, but Juan Merediz (ESP) and Fran Palacio (ESP) are back on a more southerly routing and have a good race on their hands.

Meantime Hugo Boss has caught up to within three miles of 13th placed We Are Water.