IMOCA Open 60 - Vendée Globe 2016/17 - Day 5

The leading group passed the Canaries during the night and has now reached the trade winds. In the rather moderate breeze of the past days, Vincent Riou FRA with his old-generation Open60 'PRB' played on his advantage not having the appendages (foils) slowing down the boat. He is now only 3 nm behind the leader Armel Le Cléac'h FRA ('Banque Populaire'). But in the freshening trade winds, the new generation 'foilers' will benefit from the higher speed potential and pull off. The positions of the chasers this morning UTC are Jérémy Béyou FRA ('Maitre Coq') and Morgan Lagravièrer FRrA ('Safran') 35 nm behind. Rich Wilson USA ('Great American') is now on rank 23 with a backlog of 306 nm on the leader. Didac Costa ESP who had to return to Les Sables d'Olonne shortly after the start has now resumed racing after a longer repair stop.
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