Leader Maître CoQ is trying the northern route around the High Pressure system which lies in the path of the Vendée fleet and currently has 12 knots of wind from the South East. Charlie Dalin in Apivia is now 170 miles further South, sailing along the ice restriction line with 9 knots of South Westerlies. The gap between these two is now reduced to 30 miles. They have made their different choices and the next day or days will show who has taken the better option and whether the lead will change. The high is moving slowly East at about the same speed as the boats adding to the uncertainty.
Thomas Ruyant in LinkedOut has not done so well and has dropped back to 233 miles from the lead. He is sailing in East South Easterly winds. Only 4 miles separate the next five boats in their distance behind the leader, which have closed to around 370 miles from the leader. In order they are; Groupe APICIL, Seaexplorer, OMIA - Water Family, Jean Le Cam, in 7th place, who has North North Easterly winds of 12 knots and MACSF, sailed by Isabelle Joschke, the leading female sailor. The winds are unusual and the air temperatures are higher than they are in the south of England but it is creating a wonderfully exciting and close race!
No change in Pip Hare and Miranda Merron's placings and they are currently making 13 and 16 knots respectively. Sam Davis and tail ender Sébastien Destremau are close together over 5,000 miles behind the lead in WNW winds making just over 10 knots each.