Rhythm of the Race Fast sailing- with the notable exception of the leader.

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  PRB 30South 28 West
2.  Kingfisher 33 South 34 West + 225 miles 
3.  Active Wear  40 South 36 West +440 miles 

Fleet round up section

Day 70 and another one that cuts into Michel Desjoyeaux's lead.  PRB is the slowest of the top 10 boats at 9.1 knots.  Quickest is 3rd place Active Wear at 15.8 knots.  Last report had PRB with 11 knots of wind, Active Wear with 30!

2nd place Kingfisher gained 80 miles in the last 24 hours.  

Back in the fleet Yves Parlier has all plain sail hoisted on his jury rig.  He's making 12.5 knots faster than the leader!

Josh Hall has sailed EBP-Gartmore around Cape Horn.  He is the 10th boat in the fleet to round this historic point. 

Skipper Communications

Josh Hall EBP-Gartmore "I had The Horn in sight for nearly 5 hours as we struggled in very light wind but about an hour after dark the wind filled in and I was soon chatting to the Lighthouse keeper as we passed close by".

Ellen Macarthur Kingfisher "I think that Marc (Thiercelin) is in a very good position, he’s going to keep on coming up behind the front, sailing downwind, and soon I will join Mich Desj in less favourable conditions - a lot depends on how long I can sit just ahead of the cold front."

March Thiercelin Active Wear "Michel must have started to get a bit worried where he is stuck in the East. Even where I am it’s starting to look a little hellish. At the latitude of Rio there is a nasty wind hole...The tension is unsurmountable. It would be incredible to see the fleet group together again. Everyone would get a restart then."

Michel Desjoyeaux PRB "I’m waiting for this system to clear out, unfortunately it is doing this behind me and the others are all going to come within 200 miles of me for a new start, and we’ll set off as if from scratch again. I thought passing Cape Horn with two day’s lead would be enough. I really didn’t think it would all turn out like this when I started coming up the Atlantic. I’m trying to get some rest in the calmer weather. When they get here and I have to fight them, I’ll be ready."

Yves Parlier Aquitaine Innovations "I got the main up to the 3rd reef and then second. So now I’m on full main sail for my new rig. I’m averaging 11/12 knots from a force 4 - 5 NW wind. It’s a great relief to see the boat sailing well.... I’m simply exhausted from the last week and a half at the anchorage. I’ve slept six hours each day since leaving. I’ll try and get up to 8 hours sleep in the next few days."

Current Weather Around 10 knots of wind for PRB nearly double for all else.

Weather Forecast Weather outlook is not clear.  To the east appears to be the best for the leaders.  They should have slight breezes.  

What does it all mean

The weather continues to make the fleet close up.  It could just be that this is a late in the race caution flag that will set up a final multi thousand mile spring to the finish in France.