Rhythm of the Race Fast and rip roaring, according to Ellen Macarthur, "furious surfing."

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  PRB 53 South 140 West
2.  Sill 56 South 147 West + 155  miles 
3.  Kingfisher 55 South 159 West +174 miles

Fleet round up section

Fleet leader PRB has suffered a breakdown that could jeopardize Michel Desjoyeaux's completing the race.  The starter on his diesel engine has burned out due to a faulty relay.  With no engine alternator to charge his batteries, Desjoyeaux could be forced to stop.

His boat does have solar panels and a wind generator.  This should produce enough power to run his autopilots, but little else.  Desjoyeaux's shore team is working on a solution, upon which could hinge his success.

2nd place Sill is now in close company with 3rd place Kingfisher.  19 miles separates them.  Kingfisher's Ellen Macarthur has gone from crying yesterday, to flying today sailing at 16.2 knots!

Skipper Communications

Javier Sanso Old Spice "At least I will try and go round the world alone with one stop, which is not that bad for my circumstances, so I have to be happy in my unhappiness."

Josh Hall EBP-Gartmore "Its been a great week for us..we have halved the gap on Whirlpool and quadrupled the gap on Voila, winning boat of the last Vendee"

Joe Seeten "But I look at VDH’s (VDH: Jean-Luc Van Den Heede who did the VG with the same boat) old maps from 8 years ago, and I’m going more quickly with the same boat. One reason for this is definitely the sails. With all the new technical improvements, in 4 years this race will be finished in 85 days!"

Catherine Chabaud Whirlpool ". I spent a fair amount of time trying to find out where the problem was, but apparently it’s a bearing problem so not such a big deal. Rudders are a key point on these boats, and since the problems I had in the English Transat, I have installed an emergency system, but it would only help me to reach a port if I needed."

Roland Jourdain Sill "On the other hand my other celebration – rounding Cape Horn – is looking better. But I don’t know when we’ll actually get to experience the great swell which characterises the Southern Ocean, with a strong 50 knot blow. I’m yearning for some top surfing conditions for "Sill Matines La Potagere" before then, and would hate not to experience them, as I have been dreaming of these moments for so long."

Ellen Macarthur  Kingfisher "A great moment today was putting on a fresh layer of thermals under my many layers of fleece. The old layer was fairly salty - and seemed never to dry, leaving me often quite cold - even when in my sleeping bag."

Current weather conditions Gale force winds slightly north of west for the leaders.

Weather Forecast With PRB in 40 knots of wind, an increase can be expected.

What does it all mean

The last Vendee Globe saw the Achilles heel of the Open 60 as stability.  This time around it seems it could be the electrical system.