Leaders extend

Transat AG2R competitors still tackling off course depression

Positions at 0500

Pos	Boat	Crew	Lat	Long	DTF
1	CERCLE VERT	Gildas MORVAN Dominic VITTET	33 17 N	025 35 W	2202
2	BANQUE POPULAIRE	Pascal BIDEGORRY Sidney GAVIGNET	33 07 N	024 28 W	2233
3	DELTA DORE	Jérémie BEYOU Christophe de PAVANT	33 18 N	024 51 W	2238
4	GROUPE SCE - LE TELEGRAMME	Armel LE CLEAC'H Nicolas TROUSSEL	32 52 N	024 39 W	2241
5	THALES	Erwan TABARLY Jean Luc NELIAS	33 29 N	024 44 W	2246
6	Trophée BPE Saint-Nazaire - Cuba	Jeanne GREGOIRE Samantha DAVIES	32 42 N	024 05 W	2254
7	GEDIMAT	Armel TRIPON Damien GRIMONT	32 41 N	024 18 W	2256
8	PETITS PETONS	Christophe ARTAUD Laurent PELLECUER	32 42 N	024 11 W	2262
9	TRISKEL-BROKERLINE	Marc THIERCELIN Eric DROUGLAZET	32 38 N	024 09 W	2263
10	GUYADER L'ESPRIT DE LA MER	Philippe MASSU Patrice CARPENTIER	32 48 N	024 10 W	2265
11	MAISONS PIERRE	Marc LEPESQUEUX Bertrand LECHARPENTIER	32 13 N	023 52 W	2271
12	BOSTIK FINDLEY	Charles CAUDRELIER Antoine KOCH	33 18 N	024 10 W	2272
13	GROUPE COUPECHOUX	Jean-Marc SPARFEL Benoit LEQUIN	33 02 N	024 04 W	2272
14	CHARENTE-MARITIME SCUTUM	Gérald VENIARD Yannick BESTAVEN	33 45 N	024 12 W	2276
15	ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT	Yannig LIVORY Tangi CARON	32 30 N	023 35 W	2277
16	PORT TREBEURDEN	Romain ATTANASIO Nicolas BERENGER	33 36 N	023 47 W	2278
17	D'AUCY	Bruno JOURDREN Jean-Christophe MOURNIAC	34 10 N	024 15 W	2281
18	FTH-THIRARD / CAEN LA MER	Jean-Baptiste DEJEANTY Barnabé CHIVOT	32 27 N	023 40 W	2284
19	RAYNAL ET ROQUELAURE	Christian BOS Pierre-Yves MOREAU	32 32 N	023 41 W	2284
20	BEZIERS MEDITERRANEE	Yannick CANO Arnaud BOISSIERES	33 10 N	023 37 W	2297
21	DEFI SANTE VOILE	Benoit PETIT Thierry CHABAGNY	34 17 N	023 56 W	2298
22	SKIPPER AG2R	Rodolphe JACQ Bertrand de BROC	31 49 N	023 14 W	2298
23	MONACO MARINE GROUP	Alberto SPINA Olivier de ROFFIGNAC	33 41 N	023 44 W	2298
24	MARSEILLE ENTREPRISES	Jean-Paul MOUREN Alexandre TOULORGE	32 22 N	023 18 W	2301
25	L'ESPRIT D'EQUIPE	Lionel PEAN Florence ARTHAUD	30 32 N	022 32 W	2318
26	EGERIA	Sander BAKKER Ian MUNSLOW	32 50 N	022 42 W	2337
27	CONNIVENCE	Jacques EINHORN Eric PERON	33 49 N	022 43 W	2349
28	SPACETIME	Jan HAMESTER Jens HULSEBUSCH	33 04 N	022 07 W	2368
29	SOR TMC	Christophe BOUVET Arnaud GUILLOUET	33 28 N	022 12 W	2370
30	AURELIA FINANCE	Hervé FAVRE Guillaume NEU PIETRI	33 17 N	021 15 W	2414
31	LITTLE BLACK SHARK	Antonio Pedro DA CRUZ Olivier DE LA MOTTE	32 19 N	019 49 W	2473

The front runners in the Transat AG2R are still having to contend with a depression centred to their WSW that is forcing them off to the north of the rhumb line to the finish line off St Barts in the French Caribbean.

Over the last 24 hour Gildas Morvan and Dominique Vittet on board race leader Cercle Vert have extended their lead and are now 21 miles ahead of Pascal Bidegorry and Sidney Gavignet on Banque Populaire. The 'bankers' have been having to contend with a complete electrics meltdown on board. Jeanne Gregoire and Sam Davies have pulled up to sixth place in the 31 boat fleet.

Meanwhile Lionel Pean and Florence Arthaud continue their flier to the south and at present they seem to be taking a major hit - having covered just 104 miles in the last 24 hours compared to the leader's 225 mile run.

Tactically the situation remains the same as we described yesterday with the northerly group sailing as close to the centre of the low as they dare to the north. Fortunately tonight the low looks set to move slightly to the east, but this may be right over the top of Pean and Arthaud...