Intro:

Jean-Pierre Dick's hopes of a podium place in the Vendee Globe round-the-world yacht race were dashed on Tuesday when the keel on his Open 60 Virbac Paprec broke away.

Script:

After more than two months of sailing, the Vendee Globe challenge for French skipper Jean-Pierre Dick is over.

Having completed all but 2,000 of the race's 28,000 nautical miles, Dick was lying in third place when the keel of his Open 60 Virbac Paprec broke away.

Dick was around 500 nautical miles north west of the Cape Verde islands in the central Atlantic when disaster struck.

And although the 47-year-old managed to stabilise his floundering boat and has yet to retire officially, there is no doubt that his challenge is at an end.

Dick is now heading towards the Azores where he is expected to arrive in about six days' time.

British skipper Alex Thomson, who was lying 200 nautical miles behind Dick, has profited from his misfortune and now moves up the rankings to third place.

However, the French still dominate the leaderboard.

Francois Gabart continues to hold a narrow six-hour lead over Armel Le Cleac'h as they slow in the Azores high, and Jean Le Cam lies in fourth spot behind Thomson.

The closest finish in Vendee history is expected when they cross the finish line on Saturday or Sunday.