ELLEN MacArthur is closing fast on Vendee Glove leader Michel Desjoyeaux (PRB).

Since the beginning of the week Desjoyeaux, who had a 640 miles lead over MacArthur at Cape Horn, is fighting against the calms of an anticyclone moving north up the Atlantic with him.

The PRB's skipper has slowed down while his chasers, who are sailing in much better conditions, are catching up on him regularly.

Yesterday, the Cowes-based MacArthur was only 225 miles away from the Frenchman travelling at six knots faster. The gap has been divided by three in less than a week.

Desjoyeaux admitted a feeling of helplessness. He said: "There is nothing I can do. Saint Helena is annoying me. I am waiting for the system to change. But when I look at my weather files it doesn't get better for me.

"I am preparing to see the others in a few days. The race is going to see a new start so I am preparing for the final sprint."

Ellen is catching quickly on Michel. She should soon also start to slow down and the second boat of the fleet will see the others come back on her as well.

Southampton's Mike Golding (Team Group 4), lying in ninth place, is relieved.

His water maker is still broken and yesterday he only had 8 litres of fresh water left. But then it finally started to rain, and so he didn't miss the opportunity, the former fireman slowed his boat down for two hours to just fill his tanks.

Golding managed to stock 50 litres, and he drank as much as he could to rehydrate.

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