11th hour tactical win

At finale of Solitaire du Figaro's leg two into Les Sables d'Olonne

Less than 30 minutes separated the first 14 boats at the end of the second leg of the Solitaire du Figaro race from Crosshaven to Les Sables d'Olonne last night.

Despite 2001 winner Eric Drouglazet leading for a majority of the race when the wind went light towards the finish, the fight for first place turned into a lottery that was eventually won by an unsponsored entry, Sebastien Audigane on Sports Without Borders. This is a tremendous result for the 34 year old from Concarneau. He has competed in five Figaro races previously and who normally finishes in the mid-20s overall.

A former Soling sailor, who when he is not racing the Figaro is these days a regular crewman on Olivier de Kersauson's maxi-tri Geronimo and the Open 60 Sill Plein Fruit, 'Grand Seb' (as he is known - he's 1.95m tall) says that he won the leg after splitting from the fleet yesterday morning and sailing to the south of Ile d'Yeu. In fact the first three places on this leg went to those who chose this tactic. Audiagne was followed into the Vendee Globe homeport by Philippe Vicariot and former Orange meteorologist Gilles Chiorri in second and third places respectively.

After two legs Christophe de Pavant on Malice has taken the overall lead from Figaro veteran Philippe Vicariot. Race favorites Eric Drouglazet and Gildas Morvan are now in seven and eighth places overall respectively.

Top 'bizuth' (first timer in the Solitaire du Figaro) has now changed to Gwénaël Riou on Espoir Credit Agricole, with previous leader Arnaud Boissieres dropping to third and fellow Mini sailor Jeanne Gregoire (the only woman in this year's race) moving up to second.

Finish times (French time) last night