Mike Golding has taken second place in the Vendée Globe solo around-the-world yacht race, his highest position yet. At one point this morning Golding, aboard Ecover, was fastest in the fleet, making 18.6 knots against race leader Jean-Pierre Dick’s 18.1 knots.

The gains in the race this morning were all in the south as the leaders passed Heard Island, with Dick (Paprec-Virbac II) increasing his lead by ten miles. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) was in third place just 1.9 miles behind Golding.

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) has slowed in the north, at one point sailing five knots slower than the trio in the south. Foncia is passing just 55 miles south of the Kerguelens, while Dick leads Golding on the more southerly route, about the same distance off Heard Island, with about 120 miles between the different routes.