Roland Jourdain’s Sill has taken the lead of the Calais Round Britain and Ireland race from Vincent Riou’s PRB, the initial race leader.

Jourdain sailing with Jean Le Cam (FRA), Gaël Le Cléach (FRA), François Scheek (FRA) and Bruno Béhuret (FRA) took the lead from PRB earlier today with Mike Golding’s Ecover now in third place as the fleet tracks towards the Irish coast in a 10kt north-westerly breeze. Racing is still extremely close with just a few miles between the leading four yachts.

Joe Seeten on Arcelor Dunkerque is currently lying in fifth place while Bernard Stamm’s Bobst Group-Armor Lux and Team 888 ex-Kingfisher fight it out in the following pack. Patrick de Radiguès who, after the start, took Garnier on a different course nearer the French coast rather than heading north, is now trailing the fleet.