Vendée Globe

Across the fleet the skippers are playing a waiting game, watching the movement of the high pressure zone and readying their boats for the demands of the south…news from today's live radio broadcast (French)

Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air, 4th): Cloudy skies with light squalls. 10-15 knots of wind from east.  Genoa and full mainsail. Still wondering about next 48 hours.  Difficult to know what is going to happen ahead.  Hopes high will move eastwards, so they can turn left.  Not paying too much attention to positions in rankings, but rather to his own position in weather system. Trying to avoid mistakes and keep up pace. Doesn't have any experience of south so that remains an unknown for him. Regularly checking boat to make sure all in shape for Southern Oceans. Wants to climb mast when possible to check that. Happy for the moment, but certainly not counting his chickens, as a long way to go.
Vincent Riou (PRB, 5th): Lighter winds and slightly calmer seas. More pleasant now as over the past few days boats have been punished and psychologically that is stressful.  Goal is to stay close to the leader and not take any unnecessary risks. Keep strategic options open for later.  Peyron probably first to be slowed down. Behind Guillemot, Thompson and Wavre should be getting better speeds, so closing the gap.  Dull weather with variable winds keeping him busy.  Sun appears to be coming out.  Still warm weather - could get up to 25° today.
Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux, 6th):  Wind has eased off, so slightly more pleasant, as angle of heel reduced. Sailors always complain either too much wind or not enough. In any case, a change coming. Good news to see he’s so close to leader.  Starting to look good. But unknown conditions ahead. Trying to find a short cut, but could get stuck in a calm, so bit more of a risk.  Although close in terms of distance to leader, relatively spread out east-west. He's off to the east.  Not something he can change now anyway. Could be good or bad. Interesting situation in any case. Not a question of feeling confident, because the high could do anything. Feels rested and no problems on board the boat. Taking it day by day. Plenty of time to prepare for south.
Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement, 7th): Sun is out and sea is slightly calmer. Under genoa and full mainsail in 12-15 knots of wind. Race is magnificent as so close and those behind catching up. Pleased with his performance in South Atlantic, where conditions not really the best for his boat. Expecting a sudden change in the temperature in coming days. Thinks he will be turning left in one and a half days. Notices some variations in positions, but high could change, so not easy to predict. Looking after his cricket!
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas, 16th): Squall earlier this morning, but calmer again now.  May follow what Wavre did and go between islands (St. Martin / Trindade). As leaders slow, may permit those behind to close gap, but nothing dramatic, as he is likely to be slowed too. Looks complicated for everyone ahead.
Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat, 22nd): Slightly smoother sailing as waves not as big, so more pleasant. For the moment favourable for him as good speeds, whereas leaders held up.  Has Dinelli in his sights. Has spent two days with tool kit out repairing desalinator — fitted spare, but problem comes from intake not from machine. Does not really like DIY jobs… Can now concentrate on sail adjustments. 15.2 knots of speed as they talked.
Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital, 21st): One reef and solent now as he has trade winds. Lot of adjustments to make during the night, as squalls and variable winds. Choppy seas, making it wet outside.  Wind turbines and solar panels appear to be working well. Has hardly used the engine at all. Starts it up just to make sure it's running smoothly. Sailing at about same speed as Rich Wilson.  Bernard will be catching him and Jonny Malbon faster.
Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Groupe Maisonneuve, 25th): Upwind sailing approaching the Equator, which he should reach tonight. Will be making an offering to Neptune. Suddenly very different conditions after leaving the Doldrums. "Boiling seas" making it rather tricky, 12-14 knots of wind and fluctuating in direction. Difficulty is to know which sail configuration to use in these variable winds.

 

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