Expansion and compression. Stretching and rebounding. The elastic effect is seen all the way through the Vendée Globe fleet. Mostly it is driven by the evolution and timing of weather systems, especially in the train of low pressures in the Southern Oceans, where the wind comes from the west, from…

Even if they are slowed periodically, the leading trio are still making northwards progress in the Atlantic and the fact that the weather and sea state has never been conducive to the second group closing miles back to within what might resemble ‘catching distance’ irks some within this group.

Like an over excited youngster on Christmas morning, Seb Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) had to wait until after breakfast time before he could pass Cape Horn for his first time. But for all that some patience was required of the skipper from Les Sables d’Olonne, he was rewarded by what might be described…