7.Vendee Globe 2012/13 - Teil 2 - Äquator - Cape Leeuwin

Fotogalerie
SATURDAY 1st DECember
Day 20, 18806 miles from the finish
Le Cléac'h Relinquishes Lead to Dick
Addendum:
In yesterday's press release we stated, 'the IceGate Crozet Kerguelen has been moved to eleven degrees of latitude' The correction is 'the IceGate Crozet Kerguelen has been moved to 39 degrees south.'
Jean Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3) breaks 24hr record
Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3) leads the charge
Busy night onboard
Cape of Good Hope beckons

Tanguy de Lamotte Foto: Tanguy de Lamotte/Initiative-Coeur

Yesterday, between 4am GMT Friday 30th November to 4am GMT Saturday 1st December Jean-Pierre Dick http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/13/jean-pierre-dick.html> (Virbac Paprec 3) travelled from point to point, 498.80 miles in twenty-four hours, averaging speeds of 20.8 knots. This breaks the record held previously by Alex Thomson in 2003 and, also the record set the day before, subject to ratification, by François Gabart http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/31/francois-gabart.html> (MACIF), of 482.91 miles in 24hrs. Confirmation of the record is subject to validation by the WSSRC (World Speed Sailing Record Council).

Last night, Armel Le Cléac'h http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/1/armel-le-cleac-h.html> (Banque Populaire) lost his race leader title, which he has held for two weeks. But for how long? Although Jean-Pierre Dick http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/13/jean-pierre-dick.html> (Virbac Paprec 3) is now leading the charge, there is very little separation between all of the first five IMOCAs in the fleet, who are sailing head-to-head, very fast and with only a hundred miles between them. It is only a matter of time until they all turn 90 ° to the same heading as the infamous Cape of Good Hope.
Last night the pace was quick, with the leaders clocking average speeds over 24 hours between 19.6 and 20.8 knots. The fleet of sailors are rocketing down the South Atlantic
The numbers speak for themselves about their crazy night. Non validated record breakers aside, Armel Le Cléac'h http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/1/armel-le-cleac-h.html> (Banque Populaire) unleashed, clocked 429.5 miles over the last 24-hours (3am GMT between 3am GMT) as displayed in the first ranking of the day. Racking up speeds of 19 knots, over the past few hours, confirms that he has lost none of his potential to take back his crown. It is winds of 18-22 knots from the northwest, which are creating these record-breaking conditions for the frontrunners.

Alex Thomson http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/25/alex-thomson.html> (Hugo Boss) and Bernard Stamm http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/17/bernard-stamm.html> (Cheminées Poujoulat) are neck and neck. Thomson is hurtling along at 20 knots and Stamm at almost 19 knots. A hundred miles behind them is the trio of Jean Le Cam http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/16/jean-le-cam.html> (SynerCiel), Mike Golding http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/12/mike-golding.html> (Gamesa) and Dominique Wavre http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/15/dominique-wavre.html> (Mirabaud) who had a busy night last night, with a quick gybe and some sail changes. They are facing lighter more complicated conditions and so have to work harder to make the pace. Jean Le Cam is leading the three and he is keen to join the rankings with the first five. Golding and Wavre are head-to-head just behind him.

For the pack at the back, lead by Javier Sanso http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/39/javier-sanso.html> (Acciona 100% EcoPowered) the conditions are light and fickle and the gap between them and the lead posse widens. Yesterday, Bertrand De Broc http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/47/bertrand-de-broc.html> (Votre Nom Autour du Monde avec EDM) lost 300 miles on the leaders. Tanguy de Lamotte http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/51/tanguy-de-lamotte.html> (Initiatives Cœur) and Arnaud Boissières http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/10/arnaud-boissieres.html> (Akena Verandas), with average speeds between 7 and 15 knots, are using the time to prepare their boats to enter the southern ocean. Last night Alessandro Di Benedetto http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/skipper/32/alessandro-di-benedetto.html> (Team Plastique) crossed the 20th parallel.

Watch web tv Vendée Globe LIVE http://www.dailymotion.com/VendeeGlobeTV> every day at midday GMT to watch the latest news LIVE from the race track.

PRESS OFFICE Liliane Fretté Communication MEDIA center Tel: +33 (0)1 46 53 53 20 Tel: +33 (0)1 46 53 53 19 FRENCH PRESS pressefrance@vendeeglobe.fr INTERNATIONAL MEDIA intpress@vendeeglobe.fr Skype: sabinamollartrogerson Tel: +33 (0)6 43 86 20 09 +34 666 759 530

01/12 - 4:00 A.M.
1 - Jean-Pierre Dick [ Virbac-Paprec 3 ] at 18806,8 miles from the finish
2 - Armel Le Cléac'h [ Banque Populaire] at 0,8 miles from leader
3 - Francois Gabart [ MACIF ] at 25,8 miles from leader
4 - Bernard Stamm [Cheminée Poujoulat ] at 84,4 miles from leader
5 - Alex Thomson [ Hugo Boss ] at 97,2 miles from leader
> FULL RANKING