While some of the Mini Transat sailors are through the worst of the doldrums as they head south towards Brazil, others are still fighting for every inch of speed, barely making 5kts.

Jonathan McKee is continuing to extend his lead, with Sam Manuard, the winner of the first leg from La Rochelle to Lanzarote, and Pierre Rolland contesting second place. The latest results show that Manuard has managed to snatch second place as they fly downwind in a south-easterly Force 4-5.

In the production fleet, Raison is pushing forward, he is now 49 miles ahead of David Sineau (428-France Fermetures). Cian McCarthy, the young Irish sailor who’s been gradually been pulling through the fleet, retains his top 10 position in seventh place.

Chris Sayer, the New Zealander who’s sailing the race unofficially (unable to secure an entry) is currently lying in 12th position heading in a south-south-easterly direction. Meanwhile, British sailors Ian Munslow and James Bird hold 19th and 47th places respectively.