Jean Le Cam is finally reaping the benefits from his position far out to the east. He has regained second place from Mike Golding on Ecover who is now almost 150 miles from the Vendée Globe leader.

A few hours after the leader, Vincent Riou (PRB), Le Cam also changed tack during the night in the north-easterly wind, which should be strengthening as the day goes by, and coming around to a more and more favourable direction helping him on his way to the Equator.

The wind is more and more from the right of Bonduelle and PRB, encouraging them to put on some speed on seas that are still quite tame.

With his mainsail lowered as he went up the mast to repair his main halyard for the second time in as many days, the British yachtsman Mike Golding has remained a prisoner of the thundery mess on the edge of the high. He needs to head further and further east to get the pressure that his opponents have found. The leading duo have found in the St Helena trades the point of sailing and the speed that they had somewhat forgotten since their arrival off the Brazilian coast. The gaps between them should stabilise today, with perhaps a little bonus for Jean Le Cam, who has found a better angle to the wind.

The Horn has been quite tough on those coming along behind the leading trio in the Vendée Globe. Joé Seeten (Arcelor-Dunkerque) won’t miss out on that either on Monday morning. Just like Nick Moloney (Skandia), who rounded the Horn during the night, the westerlies should be blowing at 45 knots offering the French yachtsman a Horn to remember.

Sébastien Josse (VMI) and Dominique Wavre (Temenos) are continuing their dance under the ridge of high pressure. Less than 10 miles separate the two boats. The north north-westerly wind should be strengthening during the day for both of them, offering a favourable angle to the youngest competitor in the race, who is having to do without his downwind sails.

Among the seven boats still fighting it out in the Pacific, Benoit Parnaudeau’s Max Havelaar-Best Western is continuing to experience the attack of the lows, with strong winds and very rough seas as each low passes over.

Slowed down in a transition zone last night, Anne Liardet (Roxy) can see Raphaël Dinelli coming up from the south-west ahead of a new low. Anne has just given up 170 miles in 48 hours to the skipper of Akena Verandas. Karen Leibovici (Benefic) is 3,250 miles from The Horn. She is progressing on a northerly route behind the cold front of the low in a pattern that is favourable to higher speeds.