Intro:

Banque Populaire keeps the pressure up on leader Macif as the fleet heads towards New Zealand.

Script:

Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm lies in fifth place aboard Cheminees Poujoulat in the Vendee Globe non-stop around the world race. Despite a continuing problem with his central winch, he remains just 884 miles behind the leaders.

Francois Gabart aboard Macif is still in the lead, but Banque Populaire's Armel Le Cleac'h, is closing down on him fast and is expected to build up speed over the next few days in the windy conditions.

SOUNDBITE: (French) Armel Le Cleac'h, skipper of Banque Populaire.

"We have returned a little bit to the south - by 53 degrees south - it has been night time for an hour and a half and we are going in the direction towards New Zealand. Conditions were a little bit calm this morning, then the wind picked up a little bit so we're going to see conditions a bit accelerated."

Javier Sanso of Acciona lies in ninth place, still in striking distance of Dominique Wavre of Mirabaud as the fleet head towards New Zealand.