Nearing the finish

Vecteur Plus pulls ahead in Mini Fastnet, but the fight is still on for second

Drawing on their last reserves, Didier le Vourc'h and Aloys Claquin, the crew of the Mini Vecteur Plus have through the early hours of this morning extended their lead from six miles to 12 - with just 29 miles to go to the finish at 0800 this morning. Remember these distance are after some six days of racing in very light winds from Douarnannez up to the Fastnet Rock and back. While the majority of this race has been carried out in exceptionally light winds, so at the moment the boats are getting a final thrashing as they sail the final miles upwind in 20-25 knots.

British crews are still hanging in well. Phil Sharp sailing on the Slovenian boat Adria-mobil-too is holding third according to the latest update less than a mile from second place, while Alex Thomson sailing with Raeffer Govoni on Mini-minx was lying fifth at the midnight position update but this morning is not registered. Belgium sailor Peter Laureyssens and Eric Guegan on the Ecover Mini have recovered to fourth place also less than a mile off second place.

THe race looks to be a case of the rich getting rich as the front runners will finish today in breeze while those still at sea will have to tackle yet another area of high pressure developing in the Bay of Biscay tonight.

To see the latest positions click on the attachment below: