With around 800 miles left to run, the skipper of Armor Lux - Le Finistère Assurance remains at the head of the Vintage Mono fleet. Four days of racing still stand between him and Guadeloupe, and he's keeping a close eye on the pack chasing him down.
The sailor from Brest describes a growing sense of belonging aboard a boat he has come to know intimately. "The boat is still just as beautiful. I feel good on board. Maybe it's from having tinkered with it so much and spent so much time on it in the yard. I feel at home now. But it's true that it's still a big boat to manage. The sail is heavy. When the boat heels because of a gust or something like that, it's immediately a lot more impressive than what I was used to."
Asked about the contrast with Class40, he said: "It's a very interesting experience, more impressive than what I was used to in Class40. But it's a boat that handles waves much better thanks to its length. Even when there isn't much wind, I can feel it's quite powerful, it quickly finds 2-3 knots. Physically, it's different too. And without really trying, it's a bit more comfortable, we're not too badly off on board."
Being hunted rather than hunting is new territory for him.
"I'm not used to it at all. It's quite particular, a bit stressful too, because when you factor in the lead, you start projecting forward. On the other hand, as soon as there's a slight slowdown, I look to see whether the competitors are still gaining or not. At the same time, it's also motivating, trying to scrape together the small miles that can make the difference at the finish."
The chasers behind him are no minor names.
"I've made choices that weren't too bad, but I'm staying extremely alert. Behind me, as soon as they get the chance to gain miles, they won't hesitate. At the same time, it's also satisfying, because it means I've had a good race so far. Whatever happens, the fight will have been enjoyable."
