For the leading bunch, the anticyclone St Helen, which has dominated the race for the past days, seems finally to be behind them. Seb Josse (BT) is showing the exit route, currently heading on an easterly track and Loick Peyron (Gitana Eighty) is some eight miles behind him.

Despite the past week’s continual southerly sailing, the skippers still have to gain some additional 150 miles to the south to reach the Cape of Good Hope and the ice doors of the Atlantic.

Behind Josse and Peyron there have been few major surprises. Britain's Mike Golding (Ecover, GBR) continues to follow their line in ninth place, about 65 miles back, while the main group of Yann Elies, Vincent Riou, Jean-Pierre Dick, Roland Jourdain and Armel Le Cleac’h are still tightly packed, just 25 miles apart.

Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux), who took the more easterly route, is now sailing south to try and converge with the leaders, whilst out on the west Safran (Marc Guillemot) is also heading south.

0500 HRS GMT. Rankings, Sunday 30th November

1- Seb Josse (BT) at 19334 miles to the finish

2- Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) at + 8.7 miles

3-Yann Elies (Generali) at + 36.4 miles

4-Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) at + 47.3 miles to leader

5-Jean le Cam (VM Matériaux) at + 48.8 miles to leader

Selected International
9- Mike Golding, GBR, (ECOVER 3) at + 66 miles

11- Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos 2) at + 190.7 miles

12- Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 197.4 miles

13- Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 227.4 miles

15- Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 350.1 miles