Vendée Globe: The long stretch Down Under

The deltas to the runway duo make sombre reading. Bernard Stamm has lost 225 miles, Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss 162. Over 72 hours Mike Golding and Dominique Wavre have lost close to 700 miles. But, equally, to put it in a perspective Golding is now 1390 miles behind the leaders, the distance between Les Sables d’Olonne and Gibraltar, so understanding they are racing in entirely different weather systems, a different race almost, is perhaps not so hard.

Jean Le Cam, sixth on SynerCiel, Mike Golding seventh on Gamesa and Dominique Wavre eighth on Mirabaud continue in the transition zone from the low pressure trough but otherwise most competitors have decent breeze today. In particular Javier Sanso has a good NW’ly flow of 25-35kts which will continue to allow him to catch miles on the trio ahead.  The Spanish skipper from Palma, Mallorca has made 240 miles on Wavre since yesterday afternoon and is now 330 miles behind Mirabaud.

Island hopping Le Cam

The South Indian Ocean is a lonely, featureless wasteland with few islands. Jean Le Cam skirted close to the volcanic St Paul Island which was discovered in 1559 by Evert Gysaerths but it was not until 1696 that the Dutch navigator Willem de Vlaming landed there. Dominique Wavre should also pass close today to this tiny French outpost.

Whilst the two leaders passed the Australia West gate this morning, Bertrand de Broc on Votre Nom Autour du Monde avec EDM projects should pass the Crozet gate today some 300 miles ahead of Tanguy De Lamotte.

PHOTO: VINCENT CURUTCHET