The the French François Gabart (Macif) is still in the lead wednessday morning of the Vendée Globe 2012-2013, followed by the Swiss Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) and another French Français, Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire).
This morning by 05h00, Gabart was ahead for about 60 miles (± 100 km) of Stamm and Le Cléac’h. the 3 leading sailors prgressed at more than 10 knots in weakening western winds north of Madeira.
Eighteen IMOCA monohulls of 60 feet (18.28 m) remained in the race Wednesday after the dropouts of Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) Monday and Marc Guillemot (Safran) on Sunday.
The yacht of the French Louis Burton (Bureau Valley) was hit by a trawler in the Tuesday night wednesday announced his team said the skipper unharmed.
Burton, the youngest of the fleet, will decide around 10h00 French time (9:00 GMT) on whether to continue the race after assessing his damages.
The collision took place off the coast of Lisbon, this information was verified by the same source. It is the second collision during this race after the one which forced the French Kito de Pavant to abandon.
Ranking at 05:00 (French time):
1. François Gabart (FRA / Macif) to 23045.5 miles from the finish
2. Bernard Stamm (SUI / Cheminées Poujoulat) in the first 60 miles
3. Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA / Banque Populaire) to 63.3
4. Jean Le Cam (FRA / Synerciel) to 64
5. Mike Golding (GBR / Gamesa) to 73.6
6. Arnaud Boissières (FRA / Akena Verandas) to 97.7
7. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA / Virbac-Paprec 3) 118.5
8. Jérémie Beyou (FRA / Master CoQ) 122.6
9. Alex Thomson (GBR / Hugo Boss) 125
10. Vincent Riou (FRA / PRB) 126.4
