New leader in the Les Sables-Azores-Les Sables

North comes good for Mini singlehander Nicolas Boidevezi

The Mini class' singlehanded Les Sables-Azores-Les Sables race has a new leader this morning. For the majority of this leg back from Horta, Czech sailor Milan Kolacek on Follow Me has been ahead, but with 330 miles to go to the finish the north has started to pay with Nicolas Boidevezi on Fondation terrevent.org pulling into pole position in the Proto class at the latest sched.

With an area of high pressure over the Bay of Biscay the northerly boats look set to continue to have more pressure with the easterly gradient stronger where they are.

Interestingly another boat that could do well from hanging on to Boidevezi's coat tails is Switzerland's Simon Koster on Go For It, as he is in third place on the water, despite sailing in the Series class aboard his Nacira. Making 10.4 knots to Follow Me's 6, it seems likely that Koster will be able to make up the 21 miles he trails the Czech sailor over the course of today. However Aymeric Bellmoir on Tout le monde chante contre le cancer is also doing well in the Series class, just 13 miles behind Koster.

Overnight several of the southerly boats, such as leg one winner Aymeric Chappellier on La Tortue de l'Aquarium La Rochelle, currently third in the Proto class, have gybed north to get a piece of the action.

Others, notably Benoît Marie currently fourth in the Proto class, are sticking to the direct route to Les Sables d'Olonne. But this tactic won't come good for another 24 hours as the high recedes west and stronger WNWerlies fill in across the Bay of Biscay.