Frenchman Loïck Peyron sailed a perfect series yesterday to claim the top spot on the leader board at the 14th Trophée Clairefontaine taking place at la Trinité-sur-Mer off the north-west coast of France.

However, the defending champion and six-times winner, is threatened by Brittany’s Michel Desjoyeaux, winner in 2001 who follows a close second, with Ellen MacArthur in third.

Loïck Peyron won the first two races of the day. Even though he had poor starts. Michel Desjoyeaux also had a great day winning the third race from Houat Island to La Trinité-sur-Mer, and the fourth race.

Ellen MacArthur is sailing consistently notching up a string of second places. Laurent Bourgnon, winner in 1993 and double winner of the Route du Rhum was leading in the second race until he got passed by Peyron and MacArthur after a poor spinnaker hoist. “That’s life, we’re waiting for the breeze to build up as we like stronger wind,” said Bourgnon after the first race.

In the following race, in a stronger breeze, Bourgnon came home in third though he had to cross the starting line twice after a premature start.

Former Team New Zealand tactician, Bertrand Pacé started well with a third place in the first race of the day. He then had to abandoned in the third race after capsizing. However, he bounced back on his feet and finished second in the last race.

The remaining legs will take place today.

Results (after four races)

1 Loïck Peyron (1,1,2,4), 33 pts

2 Michel Desjoyeaux, 32 pts (2,5,1,1)

3 Ellen MacArthur 20 pts (5,2,7,3)

4 Laurent Bourgnon, 19 pts (6,3,3,5)

5 Bertrand Pacé, 17 pts (3,6,AB,2)

6 Roland Jourdain 15 pts (4,4,5,8)

7 Ernesto Bertarelli, 11 pts (7,8,4,6)

8 Bernard Stamm, 8 pts (8,7,6,7)