Rhythm of the Race All through the top 10 boats are closing on each other.  No rest, and no peace of mind for these sailors.

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  PRB 26:1 North 33:4 West
2.  Kingfisher 24:4 North 33 West + 54 miles 
3.  Sill 20:2 North 36 West +363 miles

 
Fleet round up section

Another phase begins for the lead pair of boats.  PRB is slowing as the winds lighten.  Kingfisher has managed a 17 mile gain, and has a speed advantage.  Kingfisher can expect the same so the gain may not be permanent.  

An area of light air ahead will once again give the due a chance to post big gains on one another.  After that perhaps a reliability test in heavy down wind conditions.

Sill continues in 3rd place sailing at the same speed as Kingfisher.  4th place Active Wear has a slight speed advantage over both.

5th place Sobedo has crossed into the Northern Hemisphere ahead of UBP.  Finally they are not drifting in the Doldrums.

Gartmore and Group 4 continue to be locked together.  Today it's Gartmore by 1 mile.  However, Gartmore shows 9.7 knots to Group 4's 2.8.  Perhaps Gartmore can stretch this ultra thin lead.

Skipper Communications

Dominique Wavre UBP "I am in a Nor’Easterly breeze, I hope it will last . Looking at the files, the Doldrums are behind us now and I can see the trade wind clouds ahead of me...The last three days in the Doldrums were terrible, I hope the breeze I caught will last, It’s time to arrive soon."

Roland Jourdain Sill "I am looking at my routing softwares and studying the charts. It’s not very complicated, I only have to go as fast as possible. If I am lucky they will stay longer than me in the light airs...Physically I’m fine as it’s not very physical in the trade winds. It’s more psycholoqic as you can’t make any mistake."

Michel Desjoyeaux PRB "As we are climbing up to the North, the trade wind is getting lighter. Since yesterday it has dropped quite a lot and it is still decreasing...The final sprint with strong winds ! I can see 50 knots + arrows on the weather maps,As a tactician I will try to be between Ellen and the finish line and to be as fast as possible with PRB to reach the line.  I have more to lose than to win and Ellen has more to win than to lose But we’ll see… I am not worried."

Current Weather Winds begin to lighten for Desjoyeaux

Weather Forecast Scenario for the leaders is as follows.  First a lightening of the trade winds.  Then a period of light and variable winds.  Then heavy following winds, perhaps to the finish.

What does it all mean

Depending on how the leaders handle the decelerating wind and the light air ahead of it, there could be big changes in position between them.