Vendée Globe

From today's radio chat session with the French skippers who spoke  today in French to Pierre-Francois Bonneau and Camille El Beze.

Sébastien Josse (BT), 2nd: Not that important to be in second place, as Jean Le Cam hasn't had his final word and with the Doldrums coming up...  First there are the Cape Verde Islands - maybe some tactical choices there  For the gybe before then, the three leaders will probably be gybing at the same time.  Séb taking advantage of warmer water from Madeira to wash and keep clean. Dull skies, calm seas and damp.  8-14 knots of wind.  Pleasant sailing, but doesn't like the damp weather so waiting for sun to come out shortly.  Interesting move from Jean Le Cam.  Last time he grabbed the lead after Cape Verde... Has seen some small flying fish since yesterday, but so far none on the deck.  Just as well as very smelly and doesn't like touching fish anyway.

Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec Virbac2), 4th: Westerly option didn't pay off. In fact, it was a bad choice, but time to get back up there. Calms appeared that weren't forecast a few days ago, so taking advantage to eat and rest.  Before the Doldrums, need to plan approach.  Doesn't have a clear opinion about Cape Verde Islands, as wind variable, very unreliable and danger of wind shadow.  Up until now has sailed well, maybe a problem for the moment, but there will be options ahead in any case.  Always hard when you lose ground and find yourself slowed down.  The night he lost gennaker overboard, he heard voices, because of extreme tiredness after a physical start to the race. Mind was playing tricks but now he's rested a bit.

Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore), 9th:  10-13 knots of boat speed depending on wind that is variable.  Thinks he is out of the worst of the calms this morning.  Reasonable result.  Three at the front got away, but satisfied with performance in his group and now ahead of Mike Golding.   Impressed with Jean Le Cam's performance.  Race is what he expected. Up to each sailor to decide for himself whether to ease off or accelerate.  No one telling him what to do.  Lots of little jobs yesterday.  From sunset to sunrise spent night lying down including a 2-hour sleep, which is a good thing  at this point.  About to have a cup of tea.  Surprised he hasn't seen any flying fish.

Dominique Wavre (Temenos), 13th:    Very little wind and what there is tends to be erratic. Under big gennaker and mainsail.  After being becalmed during the night, got going again, but held up again early this morning.  Trade winds seem to have disappeared.  Everything is tidy in the boat, but he hasn't had much time to look after himself, so taking ten-minute naps. Tiring for the nerves, as so frustrating in this weather. A difficult exercise psychologically.  A lot of reflection necessary all the time.  Being Swiss doesn't really help either as very different boat from those that sail on lakes.  The three leaders must have worked hard and are now benefiting from their efforts. Determined when he restarted with a clear goal, which is still the case.

Marc Guillemot (Safran), 15th place:  Not a very easy phase.  Very light winds so a lot of work to do on deck as we need to react quickly.  No choice.  Can't stay in bed feeling sorry for himself.  In a  race, you need to keep going and tell yourself it's not over.  Hesitated passing Madeira, but looking ahead to long term planned to pass Canaries 55 miles from La Palma.  Jean Le Cam was wisely only 20 miles further out and he had no problem.  In wind charts hadn't seen the wind shadow stretched out so far.  Now he's paid the price.  Regrets, but isn't going to spend the rest of the race lamenting that.

Dee Caffari (Aviva),16th,  from Dee speaking French:  Very light winds so lost a lot of miles, so anxious. Now the sun is out and she has showered.  Pleased about start of trace, but sadder now as lost miles. Waiting for the wind to strengthen. Weather not easy ahead, so problems for the others too.

Jean-Baptise Dejeanty (Maisonneuve), re-starting tonight:  Because of tide will be leaving at around 17h and not 13h as initially planned. Priority is safety. Encouraging to see Derek Hatfield and Bernard Stamm were able to restart.  Still confident in his boat as structure was intact, so after four days, work was done, thanks to hard work by everyone in his team. Doesn't look too bad as far as weather in Bay of Biscay is concerned.  Light downwind conditions to start, but then NW'ly wind between Cape Finisterre and Madeira, which should allow good sailing conditions.

Sam Davies (Roxy),13th: Gliding southwards at 7.5 knots, but wind not very stable. The way out of these light conditions is south, so trying to push ahead.  Trying to catch Brian, who has some sewing work to do.  But it is not a sprint like in the transatlantic races, so really not that important, but nevertheless stimulates to race like that.  When she tries to catch up on her sleep, it's at that moment that the wind changes, so up and down all the time in her T-shirt and shorts.  Feeling tired, as needs to get some real rest.  Took her first shower yesterday. Sébastien Josse surprised it was only her first...    Sam e-mails her friends and family ashore and talked on the radio with Dee.

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