Rhythm of the Race 4 boats have crossed the line, aka the Equator.  The wind and boat speeds are back to double digits.

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  Aquitaine Innovations Yves Parlier  1:5 South 26:5 West
2.  PRB Michel Desjoyeaux 1:2 South 27:4 West + 34 miles 
3.  Sill Roland Jourdain  .1 South 28:3 West +101

Fleet round up section 

Eric Dumont sailing Euroka Un univers de services  has become the 3r skipper to withdraw from the race.  Dumont's starboard rudder was seriously damaged 17 November.  He decided he could not carry on into the Southern Ocean without two good rudders. Dumont provided a rueful summation to his Vendee Globe: "The sea is not always benevolent with it's gifts and a floating tree trunk was my downfall."

Yves Parlier the race leader made the following statement, "Just as the Doldrums squeezes the fleet together, at the other side it will stretch everyone out again and the first boat to exit will win the battle here south."  It looks like Parlier took the battle he described.  Not without a little drama as Aquitaine Innovations' main halyard failed.  Parlier fixed the halyard while sailing under a double headsail rig.

Skipper Communications  

Mike Golding Group 4 "I’ve just put the spi up, and the Canaries are to my North now. I’m heading 250 and pushing to the right as much as possible. I’ve got 14/5 knots and it’s a beautiful day for sailing."

Ellen Macarthur Kingfisher "Its been a relatively quite night, upwind in 14 to 18 knots of wind. I've been slightly cracked off to keep the speed up, so it will be interesting to see how I have faired against Bilou [SILL]."

From onboard Kingfisher, Ellen Macarthur in the Doldrums catching a nap
courtesy Kingfisher Challenges

Raphel Dinelli Sogal Extenso "My biceps are getting a good work out with all the sail changes!"

Roland Jourdain Sill crosses the equator: "I opened a fine bottle of red given to me by my friends at Sill. Aeolus and Neptune like red wine and I do too!"

Catherine Chabaud Whirlpool "I am glad to have proved that you can cross the Doldrums to the East. Passing Gran Canaria I thought, well, I’m behind the fleet so let’s try something radical."

Yves Parlier Aquitaine Innovations "After a 9 hour operation to replace my main halyard I’m exhausted."

Current weather conditions  Force 4 winds East South East for the boats in the Southern Hemisphere, giving them some moderate upwind sailing. For the boats north of the line and in the Doldrums force 2 & 3 breeze also East South East.

Weather Forecast Continued SE breezes as the fleet aims for South America.

What does it all mean

Yves Parlier and Aquitaine Innovations crossed the equator in a 14 days.  This is 30 hours faster than the pace Parlier set in 1996.  Entering the Doldrums this years race was 4-5 days ahead of 1996.  So, a tough Doldrums passage have seen Parlier do all he needed to retain the lead.