Rhythm of the Race The Doldrums continue to slow the leaders.  Top 7 boats show speeds from 2.1 to 6.8.

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  Aquitaine Innovations Yves Parlier  3:5 North 24:2 West
2.  PRB Michel Desjoyeaux 4:3 North 25:2 West + 31 miles 
3.  Kingfisher Ellen Macarthur  5:0 North 26:2 West +61

Fleet round up section 

Eric Dumont sailing Euroka Un univers de services  has a serious rudder problem.  Damage was caused by a floating tree last Friday.  He will consult with people shore side to determine a course of action.

For the leaders its still the Doldrums.  Leader Yves Parlier has sailed Aquitaine Innovations a bit to the west.  He retains his lead and sailing at 6.8 knots, meaning he maybe free of the speed killing area.  Ellen Macarthur has parlayed her farthest west course into 3rd breaking up the all French leaderboard.  7 boats are within 100 miles of each other.

The opposite of Kingfisher is Whirpool which is farthest east at 22° west longitude.  Catherine Chabaud is not yet overly worried about her lonely postion, saying: "Once we touch the trade winds again in a couple of days we shall see how drastic this option has been."

As the leaders sit, Dominique Wavre (UBP) has closed up.  He is 102 miles back.  He has postioined his boat at 25° west.  Perhaps he has learned from watching the others and will move up further as he tranists the Doldrums.

Skipper Communications  

Catherine Chabaud Whirlpool "But it’s too late to head West now, you have to sail where the wind is."

Eric Dumont Euroka Un univers de services "The rudder was hit hard by a floating tree trunk on the 17th November. It’s well and truly bent and will break soon!"

Josh Hall EBP/Gartmore "I am doing some work each day to prepare the boat for the South Atlantic - checking the motor; doubling up the gennaker tack line; checking the mast etc etc. It’s perfect weather for jobs."

Mike Golding Group 4 ". I’ve had time to sort out all the problems, like the leak at the back of the boat. I’ve refined the wind vane at the back of the boat and can steer upwind now."

Javier Sanso Old Spice ". I’m reading lots of books at the moment to pass the time as well as repair all the little things I need to do."

Didier Munduteguy DDP 60°Sud "“I just lost a winch handle in a manoeuvre."

Yves Parlier Aquitaine Innovations "I am going along at 5.2 knots, the wind isn’t strong but when it lifts I can make 8 - 9 knots upwind. It’s the beginning of the trade winds which come from the South."

Simone Bianchetti AQUARELLE.COM "My intention on this race is not to push it too hard. I hadn’t sailed a lot before the start like the others - just the qualification!"

Current weather conditions  For the leaders under 10 knots of wind blowing North East by East. 

Weather Forecast From Yves Parlier on the Doldrums outlook, ". But the weather map I’m looking at says there’s still more of it to come! If this is the case then the others will close in more from behind." Kingfisher Challenges reports that Parlier thinks the doldrums will last to: "2 degrees South 30 West

What does it all mean

For the leaders its busy but frustrating.  Sailing sometimes in calm conditions sometimes in heavy squalls.  Taking in all the weather information they can get.  Perhaps easing their frustration by doing boat maintainence jobs like changing filters, and checking the running rigging.  As the fleet bunches up someone will hit the trades first and win the restart after the Doldrums caution flag.