After making his lone break to pass the Crozet ice gate at its westerly point Armel Le Cléac’h has been out on his own for three days. The Banque Populaire skipper is now reaping a dividend for his astute choice, racing in a steady NNW’ly wind towards to the next control gate whilst his nearest rivals, lead again by François Gabart (Macif) are only just extricating themselves from the light winds zone which has been protecting the gate. British skipper Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss has also sailed a clever strategy which has allowed him to catch up 100 miles on the leaders, bringing him back into the pacesetters pack.
