Rhythm of the Race Fastest in the fleet is UBP at 13. knots, her skipper sums up the new rhythm for those around Cape Horn into the Atlantic: "Then, as every Vendée skipper should, it’s time to escape the 50’s, which releases a layer of tension, knowing that we’re heading into better conditions, into more of a regatta style race."

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  PRB 40 South 41 West
2.  Kingfisher 44 South 51 West + 420 miles 
3.  Active Wear  49 South 52 West +679 miles

Fleet round up section

PRB has hit a bit of a watery pot hole on her way home.  Michel Desjoyeayx is sailing at 8.5 knots, 1/3rd slower than Kingfisher and Active Wear. 

Kingfisher gained 186 miles, Active Wear 111. PRB's slowness is due to a large high pressure system which has left the leader with under 10 knots of wind.

For now Kingfisher is benefiting sailing in 20 knots of wind.  Ellen Macarthur has set Kingfisher up to take the high pressure on the west side.  

Skipper Communications

Dominique Wavre UBP "Passing Cape Horn was hard work, loads of manoeuvres, and then there’s always the moment… As a sailor, I always stop and think about all those who have passed Cape Horn in more testing conditions...I’ve done it! I’ve just passed Cape Horn! It’s raining, the sky is ominously low but I still managed to see the rock for a few minutes. I passed 5 miles offshore, the wind is shifting between 19 - 25 knots. I'd like to beat Auguin’s record as well."

Thomas Coville Sobedo ". I’m attacking the last stage of the race with all my sails, unlike others. I changed my staysail just before Cape Horn, so I have a new one up now. I still have nearly new gennaker in the hold. My two other gennakers are worn but could still be useful...This final stage of the race will be heart-stopping. Now it’s a battle of nerves. This will be a Vendée Globe which will be remembered as a high level regatta. I’m pretty competitive and tend to throw myself into such racing."


Ellen Macarthur Kingfisher "I am really happy to be second but I still have the same objective as before the start of the race: crossing the finish line. I don’t like to sail above the boat’s performance. Of course I am doing some tactics....if I can gain some miles , well, that’s always good!"

Michel Desjoyeaux PRB "There is an anticyclonic bubble, which is spoiling the seascape and moving slowly to the North East. I had no choice but to tackle it head on and follow it. Yesterday wasn’t my finest day, but it’s like that!... . I’m not worried as PRB was designed partly for this stage of the race sailing upwind in the Atlantic. I can’t really see her being able to sail faster. In the English Transat when I was racing for the first 4 – 5 days, I was ahead, not the yellow and blue boat! Because of my technical problems, the yellow and blue boat did win in the end…"

Roland Jourdain Sill "The sea is dark green and the sky is blue. I am reaching between 15 and 18 knots. It’s like in sub marine. Just a few minutes ago, the cockpit was full of water it nearly went inside the cabin. In fact, the water couldn’t evacuate because of some ropes."


Current Weather For the leaders steady sailing breezes for all except for PRB.

Weather Forecast The high pressure becomes the dominant weather obstacle.  It appears to be moving west to east.

What does it all mean

This high pressure system properly handled may result in gains towards the leader.  Or it may prove typical with the first the leader losing ground and then the followers losing ground as the leader regains the wind.