This Friday morning Alex Thomson on HUGO BOSS retains a margin of just a handful of miles in the Vendee Globe race.
Right now there is no significant pressure on the leading trio of Thomson, Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut) and Charlie Dalin (APIVIA).
It is about maintaining target speeds and not losing contact with each other as they work constantly at the best route to the Southern Ocean.
They are less than 45 miles apart and are dropping fourth placed Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam!) more and more with each day, the veteran French skipper now being 190 miles behind the leader.
The reaching angles open progressively as the leaders sail south to pass the latitude of Salvador in Brazil where Charlie Dalin continues to be fastest of the leading trio.
The Apivia skipper sailed 505 nautical miles in the last 24 hours compared to 467 for Alex Thomson.
One of the best Figaro one design offshore racers of his generation, Dalin first raced to Salvador de Bahia in 2009 when he was second in the MiniTransat that year.
Fourth placed Kevin Escoffier on PRB is still not matching the pace of his pursuers.
Notably Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2) who was less than four miles behind this morning and seeming likely to pass Escoffier who is his wife’s Servane’s cousin.
Vendée Globe Leaders – Day 13 – Fri 20 Nov – Updated 21:00 hrs UK
1st GBR Alex Thomson – HUGO BOSS – 20,408 nm to finish
2nd FRA Thomas Ruyant – LinkedOut – 7 nm
3rd FRA Charlie Dalin – APIVIA – 57 nm
4th FRA Jean Le Cam – Yes we Cam! – 242 nm
5th FRA Louis Burton – BUREAU VALLEE 2 – 257 nm
6th FRA Kevin Escoffier – PRB – 264 nm
7th FRA Boris Herrmann – SEAEXPLORER – 321 nm
8th FRA Yannick Bestaven – Maître CoQ IV – 350 nm
9th GBR Sam Davies – INITIATIVES-COEUR – 361 nm
10th FRA Sebastien Simon – ARKEA PAPREC – 377 nm
11th FRA Benjamin Dutreux – OMIA – Water Family – 504 nm
Other GBR:
22nd GBR Pip Hare – Medallia – 1397 nm
25th GBR Miranda Merron – Campagne de France – 1802 nm
Retired: Nicolas Troussel