Le Cleac'h regains lead in Vendee Globe

Frenchman Armel Le Cleac'h was back in command of the the round-the-world Vendee Globe race on Sunday, taking advantage of stiffer winds on the more southerly course he charted. Le Cleac'h had led the ocean-going epic for over two weeks until he slipped to fourth place behind countrymen Francois Gabart and Jean-Pierre Dick and Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm on Friday. But with the three leading boats coming out of the Crozet "ice-gate" in the southern Indian Ocean into calmer conditions, Le Cleac'h was able to move back ahead having sailed further south to boost his speed. At 0400 GMT on Sunday, the leading five boats were all within 127 nautical miles of each other, Britain's Alex Thomson holding steady in fifth place. In all 13 boats remain in the hunt for sailing's toughest test 29 days after the race, which is held every four years, set off from the French port of Les Sables d'Olonne. They are due to arrive back in about two months time. Seven boats have pulled out, including the only woman skipper in the race, Britain's Samantha Davies, who came fourth in the last edition two years ago. Standings at 0400 GMT Sunday 1. Armel Le Cléac'h (FRA/Banque Populaire) at 16,158.6 nautical miles from the finish 2. François Gabart (FRA/Macif) at 34 nautical miles from the lead 3. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA/Virbac-Paprec 3) at 101.4 4. Bernard Stamm (SUI/Cheminées Poujoulat)at 107.7 5. Alex Thomson (GBR/Hugo Boss) at 127.3 6. Mike Golding (GBR/Gamesa) at 411.1 7. Jean Le Cam (FRA/SynerCiel) at 430.6 8. Dominique Wavre (SUI/Mirabaud) at 479.9 9. Javier Sanso (ESP/Acciona) at 1,201.1 10. Arnaud Boissières (FRA/Akena Vérandas) at 1,480.7