Rhythm of the Race With the fleet entering more typical Southern Ocean weather it will increase.

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  PRB  46:2 South 65 East
2.  Sill 47:4 South 62:4 East + 103 miles 
3.  Aquitaine Innovations 49:3 South 55 East +141 miles

Fleet round up section

The top 2 boats have gained a jump from the latest weather system. Leader PRB was sailing in 31 knots of west-south west winds at 14.6 knots. 2nd place Sill was making 14.2 knots.  Whilst they surfed away the miles many of the other boats bashed slowly upwind being on the wrong side of the weather system.

3rd place Aquitaine Innovations has once again lost out on a weather call as Yves Parlier has only 11.9 knots of wind. 

The extent of effect of this situation is as follows.  PRB gained only 2 miles on Sill.  In reference to Aquitaine Innovations, PRB gained 228 miles!

PRB and Sill are well positioned. Their lead has brought them to the depression first. Their route choice has put them on the preferred North side of the system.  

Mike Golding is making fine progress in Group 4 posting the fastest speed at 15.5 knots.

Voila Fr. and VM Matériaux  continue their tight race.  Bernard Gallay has Voila Fr. 10 miles ahead. 

Javier Sanso's Old Spice has suffered rig damage breaking a diagonal shroud during a knockdown.  He plans to head north for calmer seas and make repairs, saying: " have to work on the mast for quite a long time so I need to have the boat stable"

Skipper Communications

Josh Hall EBP/Gartmore "Last night it was blowing 30 - 35 knots from the NE, and the boat was going upwind with the staysail and 2 reefs in the main sail - it was hard going! This morning, the wind’s from the NW, about 11 - 12 knots, and it’s a better heading but I’ve got too near to the centre of the low pressure."

Marc Thiercelin Active Wear "I’m knackered! What a tough time this morning. I went upwind to pass the Crozet Islands and got hit with 58 knot gusts. The weather’s been too bad to see much of the islands."

Thomas Coville Sobedo "Going upwind. I missed the goal yesterday. Ellen gybed 1 hour earlier than me and she’s 60 miles to the North now. Sodebo is a downwind boat but the heading isn’t so bad. I’ve got 20 - 22 knots now, it should rise to 30. I’m a bit vexed by it all."

Dominique Wavre UBP "The first two may have got away for now but with the complex weather charts we’re getting, things could still change!"


Joé Seeten Nord Pas de Calais - Chocolats du monde "There is a little problem with my rig as I have broken a piece of my mast track and I can’t put the full main sail up anymore."

Patrice Carpentier VM Matériaux "I’ve just come down from the deck where I was filming the Prince Edward island, the summit is capped in snow. Further away the Marion Island is more snowy. What a distraction! My daughter is called Marion, and I called her yesterday to tell her I would be passing the island which carried here name."

Michel Desjoyeaux PRB "The night was tough with 50/60 knots during four or five hours, and gust sometimes over 60. The wind was coming from 250°.  The pilot was doing really well, it steered up to 28 knots in some surfs. We shared the night but sometimes when you are at the chart table you wonder if you have to keep your wet weather gear or to put your slippers on! ... but I tend to wear my jacket."

Ellen Macarthur Kingfisher ". I was with Thomas all of yesterday until he left me in the evening. We spoke on the telephone. It’s great to see someone else but I prefer to be alone. But it’s quite impressive to see a boat after 35 days at sea though!"

Current weather conditions 30+ knots for the front pair from 11 to 19 for those in the next group.

Weather Forecast The depression and its favorable winds appear that they will track north.

What does it all mean

Leader Michel Desjoyeaux sums it up saying: "I have the position Parlier would like to have..."