Groupama has closed to within fractions of race leader Bayer in the Challenge Mondial race.

The race leaders have just over 287 miles left and are six miles ahead of third place Belgacom and nearly 50 miles ahead of Ellen MacArthur's vessel Foncia Kingfisher.

Bayer had taken the lead overnight in the race and is now embroiled in an exciting tussle.

The Foncia was earlier just 20 miles behind Bayer, but has failed to keep up with the front-runners.

The leaders were faced with the the frustrating prospect of finishing on Thursday, four days behind schedule - although the winds seemed to have picked up since.