Elies into the lead again

As Solitaire du Figaro fleet round Wolf Rock

Into two day of the second leg of La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro the 50 remaining solo skippers taking part were rounded Wolf Rock lighthouse in the early hours of the morning.

The light winds and strong tides have held up the boats' progress to the light house off the Scilly Isles. The lighthouse is one of the major milestones on the 463-mile stage of the race.

Leg one winner, Yann Elies on Groupe Generali Assurances was first to round the lighthouse in the lead after 1 day 5 hours 25 minutes and 31 seconds at sea, three minutes ahead of Dominic Vittet on Atao Audio System, who had been leading from the early stages of the leg. 2003 winner Armel Le Cleac’h on Foncia TBS followed close behind in third.

Gaps between the competitors gradually built up on the approach to Wolf Rock, with 1h15m separating the first from the 20th placed skipper, Laurent Peculler on Cliptol Sport. Rounding Wolf Rock Lighthouse marks a key turning point for the single-handed sailors. As the tide turns against them once more, those trailing behind face another exhausting day fighting the current to round the lighthouse as they see the leaders increase the gap between them.

They skippers head for Britanny under an easterly breeze that should build up to between 10 and 15 knots, enough to set the autopilots on and catch up on some much needed sleep. The Solitaires are sailing at an average 8 knots and it looks like they will cross the English Channel and reach the French shores around 8 pm this evening.

The big question now is, will the tides on the Britanny coast give the leaders an even greater lead or will they turn against and allow the back of the fleet to catch up on the advantage fought for leading up to Wolf Rock Lighthouse?

Sam Davies on Skandia has gradually built her way of up the fleet, rounding the lighthouse in 16th and is now sailing under some 10 knots wind at an average 8 knots.

Liz Wardley on Kookai-eol has managed to step her mast in Cowes, Isle of Wight and is heading for Saint Gilles to meet up with her shore crew and plans to re-join the race for stage three startingon on 5 August from Saint-Gilles Croix-de-Vie to Gijon in northern Spain.