A very interesting situation has developed within the Vendee Globe. The fleet of 20 has split into three distinct groups, which could mark the turning point in the race.

The leading group which includes Bonduelle (Jean Le Cam) – positioned 23 36.48′ S, 24 36.36′ W – PRB (Vincent Riou), Sill (Roland Joudain), VMI (Sebastien Josse), Ecover (Mike Golding) and Boss (Alex Thomson) is currently benefiting from a totally different weather system which is propelling them rapidly south and increasing their lead over the other two ‘packs.

There is now a 200-mile gap between the two top groups and nearly 300 miles between group two and three. Norbert Sedlacek on Brother in 20th position is trailing the leader by 1,333 miles just two week after the start.

So what’s the outlook? Now the leaders, in particular, Bonduelle (Le Cam), have hooked into a different weather system which is pushing them on a rapid pace south, it seems likely they will have the advantage all the way round in a different system. Once they round the Cape of Good Hope, on the edge of the Roaring Forties, it will be a case of the rich getting richer while the ‘poor’ struggle to play catch up round the rest of the world. Barring damage/gear failure, the winner of the race is likely to be one of the current top six boats.

However, as the boats head further south the chances of damage and gear failure become stronger. Judging just how far to push it when the going gets tough is something only the skippers will be able to decide at the time and despite what seems fairly clear cut right now with the leading group paving the way, nothing should be ruled out at this stage.

Current Positions

1 Bonduelle Jean Le Cam, 23 36.48′ S 24 36.36′ W,

2 PRB Vincent Riou, 23 04.64′ S 25 08.00′ W, 43.0 miles from leader

3 Sill Véolia Roland Jourdain, 22 16.16′ S 25 27.32′ W, 90.0 miles from leader

4 VMI Sébastien Josse, 22 01.20′ S 25 35.64′ W, 106.1 miles from leader

5 Ecover Mike Golding, 20 38.52′ S 26 06.36′ W, 185.5 miles from leader

6 Hugo Boss Alex Thomson, 21 22.04′ S 27 32.92′ W, 210.4 miles from leader

7 Virbac-Paprec Jean-Pierre Dick, 18 13.32′ S 29 07.88′ W, 408.5 miles from leader

8 Temenos Dominique Wavre, 16 21.20′ S 29 04.00′ W, 483.1 miles from leader

9 Hellomoto Conrad Humphreys, 11 51.52′ S 24 55.44′ W, 548.3 miles from leader

10 UUDS Hervé Laurent, 14 17.84′ S 28 08.60′ W, 548.3 miles from leader

11 Arcelor Dunkerque Joé Seeten, 14 05.88′ S 28 02.68′ W, 548.8 miles from leader

12 Skandia Nick Moloney, 11 41.92′ S 24 54.64′ W, 550.6 miles from leader

13 Pro-Form Marc Thiercelin, 10 55.12′ S 24 08.08′ W, 560.6 miles from leader

14 VM Matériaux Patrice Carpentier, 11 16.98′ S 27 49.50′ W, 663.1 miles from leader

15 Ocean Planet Bruce Schwab, 9 25.92′ S 26 32.04′ W, 721.8 miles from leader

16 AKENA Vérandas Raphaël Dinelli, 4 28.72′ S 27 58.16′ W, 1011.7 miles from leader

17 Max Havelaar / Best Western Benoît Parnaudeau, 3 38.32′ S 28 47.52′ W, 1076.5 miles from leader

18 ROXY Anne Liardet, 2 53.88′ S 27 56.36′ W, 1080.9 miles from leader

19 Benefic Karen Leibovici, 3 20.40′ S 29 59.88′ W, 1139.9 miles from leader

20 Brother Norbert Sedlacek, 3 37.44′ N 24 13.96′ W, 1369.8 miles from leader