After Bernard Stamm and his "Cheminées Poujoulat" were able to take the lead overnight, the next 24 hours promise to be exciting: The obligatory ice gate Port Crozet lies just 110 nautical miles north-east of the trio led by Stamm and the young François Gabart on "Macif" in particular is stubbornly nipping at the charismatic Swiss sailor's heels, closely followed by the old master Jean-Pierre Dick on "Virbac Paprec".
Le Cléac'h under pressure
Meanwhile, Armel Le Cléac'h has dropped back to fourth place and also has significantly less wind than his opponents. He is currently about 80 nautical miles south of Porte Crozet, but has already completed it. Le Cléac'h will now try to head south so as not to lose touch with Stamm and Co. in accordance with the old Southern Ocean rule of thumb "Go south, wait till it's blowing 40 knots, turn east". But the high-pressure area in which Le Cléac'h finds itself with "Banque Populaire" has not yet been overcome: While "Banque Populaire" is sailing south at just under nine knots, Stamm, Gabart, Dick and Thomson are travelling much faster towards Port Crozet.
A new start in the Southern Ocean?
Two questions are now relevant: Will Armel Le Cléac'h overcome the high pressure area quickly enough to find stronger winds in the south? And how will Bernard Stamm position himself after passing the ice gate? Le Cléac'h is still slow, but his lead to the south could prove to be an advantage in the sprint to the next ice gate. There is much to suggest that the cards of the leading five in the game of east and south could be reshuffled.
