Rhythm of the Race Another low pressure turns up the speed.

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  PRB 54 South 160 West
2.  Sill 55 South 163 West + 113  miles 
3.  Kingfisher 55 South 165 West +144 miles

Fleet round up section

Ellen Macarthur and Kingfisher continue to close.  They are now 31 miles from 2nd place Sill.

PRB has again retained the lead.  With a nearly west wind PRB is getting a different breeze and has a higher speed than the either Sill or Kingfisher.

The trio is holding different courses and wind angles.  PRB is sailing a course of 97°, which gives a true wind angle of 174° the Open 60's best sailing mode.  Sill is steering 113° with a wind angle of 126°, not great but still aft of the beam.  Kingfisher is sailing a course of 144° for a true wind angle of 82°, meaning with apparent wind sailing upwind.  A long period pounding upwind could undo miles of gain that Kingfisher has made.

Skipper Communications

Yves Parlier Aquitaine Innovations "I’ve been making a precise inventory of the stratification work to be done and written lots of telex messages, even been playing cards on my computer, which I only just discovered. Tomorrow to work - when I’ve checked off everything I need to do this operation, I’ll start sawing up carbon."

Ellen Macarthur Kingfisher "There are clearly two weather options.. this morning I was hoping to stay with that of the north - to pick up the westerlies and fire east - but the
wind has turned earlier, and now we are heading to the south of SE - in a wind which is basically east. I am not sure if my choice is the right
one... I guess this is what I lack - the experience. The experience of standing by a decision, and understanding it in a way different to I do now. "

Current weather conditions Wind veers towards the west as the fleet advances, force 5 & up.

Weather Forecast Continued good ride from the low, with more wind appearing to be coming from the north.

What does it all mean

Sailors face continued pressure from each and other from trying to read the wind.