The race ended near the Kergulen Islands for the unfortunate Dominique Wavre. After damaging the keel of Temenios II, the Swiss skipper is now looking for refuge on the South Pacific islands.

Still in the lead, Jean-Pierre Dick on Paprec-Virbac 2 set a new record. He covered 448 miles over the past 24 hours; averaging 18.6 knots (21 miles per hour) and beating the previous race record held by Roland Jourdain (439 miles in 2004). The Frenchman is now only 20 miles off the overall record for a solo sailor aboard a monohull, set by  Alex Thomson in 2003 (468 miles).

Lying just 46,2 nautical  miles behind, Mike Golding, who is taking part in his third Vendée Globe, has overtaken Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement). Jean-Pierre Dick and Mike Golding's bets to take a southward course seem to be paying off. 

There are still over 15,000 nautical miles to cover, but Golding is sure enough the race will be won in the last run across the Atlantic.

1500 HRS GMT rankings:

1. Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) at 15164

2. Mike Golding GBR (Ecover) 46.4 miles behind

3. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) 51 miles

4. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) 66.1 miles

5. Seb Josse (BT) 106.4 miles

Selected International

10. Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos 2) 279.9 miles

12. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar)  663 miles

13. Bernard Stamm, SUI, (Cheminées Poujoulat) 670 miles

15. Sam Davies, GBR,(ROXY) 762.4 miles

16. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) 984.3 miles

18. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) 1304 miles

19 . Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) 1475.1 miles

20. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America III) 1652.6 miles

22. Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) 2137.1 miles

24. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport.Kapsch) 2581.1 miles