Intro:

Armel 'The Jackal' Le Cleac'h is back at the head of the fleet for the Vendee Globe after overtaking Francois Gabart's Macif on Monday.

Script:

It was all change at the front of the Vendee Globe on day 37 as Banque Populaire, skippered by Armel Le Cleac'h, retook the lead from Macif and Francois Gabart.

Gabart had been at the head of the fleet for six days and 15 hours but slipped into second on Monday.

It followed a relentless pursuit by fellow Frenchman Le Cleac'h, who overtook his compatriot after taking a shorter route through the East Australia gate.

The two had identical speeds - 17.3 knots - through the northern hemisphere night.

Le Cleac'h, who is nicknamed the jackal, had sailed 13,868.16 miles at the 0400 hours (GMT) ranking, with Gabart having done 14,248.56.

Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3), on his own in third, was 250 miles south west of the East Australia gate and in similar position to where the two leaders gybed north on Monday

Meanwhile, Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) lost ground on the leaders but was making the best speed in the fleet - 20.4 knots - as he continued his match race with Bernard Stamm (Cheminees Poujoulat) on the longitude of Hobart.