Gitana 80 closes on leader

Loick Peyron, seeking his third win in the singlehanded transatlantic race closed the gap in Gitana 80 on leader Vincent Riou's PRB as the pair approached both the ice gate and the 1,000-mile post to the finish yesterday.

But Spain's Unai Basurko became the third Open 60 competitor to retire, struggling in last place, leaving just 10 in the fleet which started as 13 in Plymouth, bound for Boston 2,800 miles away.

Sam Davies in Roxy is holding on to sixth, 250 miles behind the leader, while Dee Caffari in Aviva is ninth, another 100 miles behind.

In the 40-foot class, Italy's Giovanni Soldini's Telecom Italia maintains his lead as Boris Herrmann slipped to join a trio which included Yvan Noblet and Thierry Bouchard all vying for second place. Miranda Merron was attacking again from sixth place in 40 degrees, nearly 80 miles behind.