Vendée Globe

The most recent position reports confirm a slight slow down and continued compression as the leaders negotiate a slight ridge of high pressure.

Speeds to around 8-12 knots with quieter spells, but the sun is high and it is warm, the sailing is relatively easy.

Loick Peyron on Gitana Eighty has a lead of 14.1 miles. As if to confirm that this is a time to re-group mentally and restore the energy reserves, Peyron admitted on the radio vacation today that he had just been naked on deck, shaving and cleaning up before the call from Race HQ came.
He said that he was sailing under full main and big spinnaker, making 9-10 knots, still working at it because the wind remains quite unstable.

Jean Le Cam, second placed on VM Matériaux, said that breezes around him were now so light that ‘Eleanor the wind turbine isn't charging much as light winds. Fine weather and boat sailing well.’
He has been using his Eleanor to cut slices of cheese by throwing it at blades, but could only spare a few minutes as he was busy making a stanchion repair and his epoxy was going off.
In fifth place now, Vincent Riou (PRB), said that he was now making better speed downwind:
“ The weather is fine I have been taking off the outer layers of clothes.  Not yet too hot but warm.  25°C maximum.  I don’t like very hot weather so I am happy for the moment.   Easy sailing conditions.”
He had headed off slightly westwards, but sees everyone's route coming together soon. 
“The wind is variable, so need to keep working.  I am satisfied with my current position.  It looks complicated ahead, and a lot of sail changes and manoeuvres in these light conditions.  But this boat appears to be doing better than BritAir in light winds.”
Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) spoke of his bad back, confirming that on-line consultation with both Dr Chauve in Les Sables d’Olonne and his own medical advisers, makes him believe he may have a cracked rib.
Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) has had a fairly straightforward straight line passage out to Cape Finisterre in benign conditions:

Derek Hatfield:

“ Things are very good, I am just rounding  Cape Finisterre and so we are making good progress across the Bay of Biscay, not like the first time coming out. Leaving Les Sables d’Olonne it was a little bit emotional, things there are kind of winding down but I was very happy to get away. Team Pindar helped me get up and running again, team members from Ecover and Hugo Boss also helped me, and so it was a great collaboration.”
He said:
“ Personally I never thought about not coming back, if we could fix the boat.”
“ I am brining in the wind from astern and so I am a little closer to Bernard (Stamm), but of course he is a great competitor, so hopefully we will have a battle pushing each other towards the front of the fleet. I am going to race hard, but you know I need to get my head into this, and my motivation is to get around the world and see how we can do against the rest of the fleet, we are a little handicapped now, but I feel very comfortable and very confident now, I am taking care of the boat now.”
 

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