Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest: Caudrelier back on top

Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest pacemakers Charles Caudrelier (Edmond de Rotchschild) and Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) are profiting from conditions which remain ideal for high speeds as they head south east towards the longitude of Cape Horn which is about 1550 nautical miles ahead of them.

Caudrelier leads by 17 miles this morning after rival Laperche has gybed south west to find a better angle. Just less than 400 miles behind Thomas Coville (Sodebo) has opened a few more miles on the boats behind and gained back on the leaders slightly – sailing 744 miles in the 24 hours to 0700hrs UTC this morning. In fifth Armel Le Cléac'h  has been struggling in lighter winds close to the Brasilian coast since leaving Recife after his 27 hours technical stop and is 170 miles behind Athony Marchand (Actual Ultim 3). And Éric Péron (Adagio) is slowly emerging from the Doldrums.

The leading duo are lining up to hook into a favourable Southern Ocean depression which will take them east at even quicker speeds. As it stands this morning, at some 380 miles behind Coville will struggle to catch this system. Meantime temperatures are dropping, the air is cooler and the skippers are preparing for the big soutt.

Having left Recife a little before 1400hrs yesterday, Tuesday, Armel Le Cléac'h has since been forced to sail closer to the coast of Brasil, looking to get south of a high pressure ridge and into the trade winds again which will carry him south. He is about 1400 miles behind the leaders and so lost around 1000 miles on Coville - who he was racing close to – because of his enforced technical stop. Ahead of him Anthony Marchand is having a solid race so far on Actual Ultim 3 and is making more than 30 knots towards the roaring 40s.

And Éric Péron had a painful slow Tuesday, very slow and almost stopped at times in the Doldrums, he is making a more useful 16kts this morning.