Cape Leeuwin passed with a new record.

The leaders MACIF and Banque Populaire get richer!

MACIF leading the VendeeGlobe2012

The Leaders have passed Cape Leeuwin (SW corner of Australia) last night in a new record time! The new record is: 
34 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes! This is 2days, 2 hours and 25 minutes faster from Les Sables d'Olonne to Cape Leeuwin as the record from PRB , Vincent Riou set in VG2004.
Macif was 1e shortly followed by Banque Populaire; 1hour and 50 minutes later. 
Both leaders are now in a different and better wind system as the followers, of which Virbac Paprec3 is the closest at 350 Nm. 

As a surprise, Francois Gabart (MACIF) also broke the record between the two Capes, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin, with 9 minutes, now set at 11days, 6 hours and 40 minutes. 

The leaders in the virtual VR are somewhat ahead the real boats. 
I sail already east of New Zealand in LiveSkipper Virtual sailing game. All sailors are sailing a Imoca60 boat, but LiveSkipper does not have so many Ice gates, allowing those Boats to sail more Southerly routes. 

Boats sailing at high speeds in VendeeGlobe

After validating Crozet Ice Gate the leading boats sailing fast Eastwards on Beam. Alex Thompson is setting the highest speeds and climbing to 3rd spot. 

a wave covers the Sailing Boat, which Boat?

What a Fantastic pictures this is with a wave breaking and producing a white water cover of the sailing boat.
The fleet is now heading to the Amsterdam Ice Gate, that is positioned relatively North to keep the boats away from the dangers of floating Ice bergs. 

The Virtual Boats in LiveSkipper have reached the South of Australia already, but in their Sail the Globe race the Ice Gates are less and more to the South, giving the advantage of sailing more South and a shorter distance to the New Zealand Gate.