Big winds gusting over 35kts overnight forced the retirement of two boats in the third leg (456 miles) of La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro which set off on Wednesday from La Rochelle in France to the Irish port of Crosshaven in Cork.

Leaks in his ballast system forced Christian Bos on Raynal et Roquelaure to quit the race, and a broken main halyard forced the retirement of Amaïur Alfaro on www.pay-basques-entreprises.com. Both boats are now heading for Lorient.

Elsewhere in the fleet at 0300 this morning the fleet was still sailing upwind just off the Penmarc’h point heading north. At this point it was the southerly duo of Laurent Pellecuer (Cliptol Sport) and Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) leading the fleet.

Jeanne Grégoire on Banque Populaire who yesterday afternoon co-led the fleet with Kito de Pavant on Bel Groupe and Laurent Pellecuer on Cliptol Sport lost out overnight and is currently lying 11th one place behind British sailor Sam Davies on Skandia.