According to this morning’s 10:00 CET position update, Neutrogena have gained a place on Mirabaud after a close battle which has seen the two boats locked together through all six Southern Ocean ice gates – at times separated by as little as two miles.
 
Neutrogena ‘s Boris Herrmann (GER) and Ryan Breymaier (USA) have a four mile advantage over Dominique Wavre (SUI) and Michele Paret (FRA) on a more northerly path, and one to two miles faster boatspeed.

Groupe Bel are also working hard to continue their advance on third-placed Estrella Damm, having reduced their margin to just 11 miles this morning.

In Wellington, New Zealand, the clock is ticking for long-term leaders Virbac-Paprec 3, who surprised everyone by annoucing that they would be stopping during the Cook Strait passage to make key repairs.

Their 48-hour mandatory penalty for stopping began at 11:11 CET yesterday, so the team are nearly halfway through their stopover in order for Jean-Pierre Dick and Loick Peyron (FRA) to leave and resume racing as soon as possible.

To track the boats, CLICK HERE.

Follow us on twitter.

Subscribe to Yachting World magazine for all the latest racing news and reviews