<p class="bodytext">French skipper Thomas Ruyant is the new leader of the Vendee Globe after overhauling Alex Thomson after 13 days at sea in the solo round-the-world race.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ruyant and his boat LinkedOut, which had been 16 nautical miles behind Thomson's Hugo Boss on Friday, opened up a 23.5nm lead by 0400GMT but that had narrowed slightly to 21.7nm by Saturday's 1100GMT briefing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Initially it was about getting the best angle since getting out of the doldrums and obviously I set a route but I have had a good angle and good winds all the time," Ruyant told the organisers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think all the time maybe Alex has had less wind and certainly during the early part of the descent of the South Atlantic."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Another French skipper Charlie Dalin is currently running third in Apivia, 66.7nm behind the leader. Jean Le Cam, who finished second in 2004-05, is fourth in Yes we Cam! a further 215nm back.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The breakaway top trio, who are all in the new generation of 'foilers' -- boats equipped with foils which help lift the boat so that it is virtually flying across the top of the waves -- are enjoying a fast slide south eastwards towards the Southern Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope.</p>.<p class="bodytext">So far in the competition, there has only been one abandonment, that of Nicolas Troussel after a dismasting on Monday off Cape Verde.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jeremie Beyou, who had to return to the start to repair his boat Charal before setting off again on Tuesday is 3,146nm behind Ruyant.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The finishers will complete approximately 24,296 nautical miles around the globe before they finish back in France at some point in January.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><strong>Standings on Saturday</strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">1. Thomas Ruyant (FRA/LinkedOut) 20.073,5 nautical miles from the finish, 2. Alex Thomson (GBR/Hugo Boss) at 21.7nm, 3. Charlie Dalin (FRA/Apivia) 66.7, 4. Jean Le Cam (FRA/Yes we Cam!) 281.7, 5. Kevin Escoffier (FRA/PRB) 314.0, 6. Louis Burton (FRA/Bureau Vallee 2) 337.7, 7. Boris Herrmann (GER/Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) 379.1, 8. Yannick Bestaven (FRA/Maitre Coq IV) 392.3, 9. Sebastien Simon (FRA/Arkea-Paprec) 408.6, 10. Samantha Davies (GBR/Initiatives-Coeur) 426.2</p>
<p class="bodytext">French skipper Thomas Ruyant is the new leader of the Vendee Globe after overhauling Alex Thomson after 13 days at sea in the solo round-the-world race.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ruyant and his boat LinkedOut, which had been 16 nautical miles behind Thomson's Hugo Boss on Friday, opened up a 23.5nm lead by 0400GMT but that had narrowed slightly to 21.7nm by Saturday's 1100GMT briefing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Initially it was about getting the best angle since getting out of the doldrums and obviously I set a route but I have had a good angle and good winds all the time," Ruyant told the organisers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think all the time maybe Alex has had less wind and certainly during the early part of the descent of the South Atlantic."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Another French skipper Charlie Dalin is currently running third in Apivia, 66.7nm behind the leader. Jean Le Cam, who finished second in 2004-05, is fourth in Yes we Cam! a further 215nm back.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The breakaway top trio, who are all in the new generation of 'foilers' -- boats equipped with foils which help lift the boat so that it is virtually flying across the top of the waves -- are enjoying a fast slide south eastwards towards the Southern Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope.</p>.<p class="bodytext">So far in the competition, there has only been one abandonment, that of Nicolas Troussel after a dismasting on Monday off Cape Verde.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jeremie Beyou, who had to return to the start to repair his boat Charal before setting off again on Tuesday is 3,146nm behind Ruyant.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The finishers will complete approximately 24,296 nautical miles around the globe before they finish back in France at some point in January.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><strong>Standings on Saturday</strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">1. Thomas Ruyant (FRA/LinkedOut) 20.073,5 nautical miles from the finish, 2. Alex Thomson (GBR/Hugo Boss) at 21.7nm, 3. Charlie Dalin (FRA/Apivia) 66.7, 4. Jean Le Cam (FRA/Yes we Cam!) 281.7, 5. Kevin Escoffier (FRA/PRB) 314.0, 6. Louis Burton (FRA/Bureau Vallee 2) 337.7, 7. Boris Herrmann (GER/Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco) 379.1, 8. Yannick Bestaven (FRA/Maitre Coq IV) 392.3, 9. Sebastien Simon (FRA/Arkea-Paprec) 408.6, 10. Samantha Davies (GBR/Initiatives-Coeur) 426.2</p>