Vendée Globe

A few selected vignettes, bon mots, epithets and general chat from the French speaking skippers: from today's Radio Vacations in Paris: wanted and unwanted birthday presents for Peyron, Dinelli back on course,  Elies on deck in his underwear......

1^st 18656.3 miles to finish, Sébastien Josse (BT): Pleased with his position.  12-18 knots of boat speed.  Swell of 3-4 m but not posing any problem.  Saw his first albatrosses this morning.  It's like a race but away from land.  10-12° air temperature.  No worries about ice yet, although feels water is colder.  Grey yesterday, but a bit of a sunshine today.

2^nd + 40.8 miles Yann Eliès (Générali): 18 knots of speed while he is in his sleeping bag! Went out on deck this morning in his underwear, but quickly went back to bed. Was tired of manoeuvres and stanchion problem yesterday, so went to bed. Lots of birds around that he thinks come from the small island he passed.

3^rd + 61.4 miles. Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80):  Gennaker rolled around keel and took time to recover it, but it is intact.  Tiring as a lot of manoeuvres.   Has been in his bunk for couple hours.  Thinks he was in good position.  Moving along reasonably well. Yesterday was his birthday and mixed up his Christmas and birthday presents.   Radio-controlled helicopter, books, CDs...  Rhythm very different from his past experiences. Finished the book Millennium

4^th + 67.5 miles. Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2): Temperature falling to what he expected.  A busy night.  Currently at 22 knots.  Wind has got up and stronger conditions.  Grey skies with albatrosses circling.  Drizzle. Swell has built to 3-4 metres.  You have to know how to look after your boat as well as keep up with the leaders

10^th +161.8 miles. Marc Guillemot (Safran): A lot of stress yesterday as he couldn't find the same speed as leaders, as problems with his automatic pilot.  Not perfect now, but working.  Feels tired after hard work and stress.  Those like Jojo and Mich Desj have kept up high speeds, but his pilot could not adapt yesterday, so had to make some adjustments to it.  (Boat went off course, so Marc had to leap into action.) Tons of water crashing over deck moved his Iridium antenna.  21 knots of boat speed.  Swell not really suitable for long surfing mode.

11^th + 185.4 miles, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia): Had not thought that he would make it back in the race so quickly.  Cannot keep up the pace he had yesterday all the time.  Distances bound to contract and expand in coming days, as they rest or work harder.  21 hours at the helm yesterday paid off, but needs to rest from time to time.  Stays at the helm longer in Figaro races, but this is after all a long distance race.   Doesn't think that those at the front can be pushing that hard, if he's almost made it back.  By remaining close now, he can keep an eye on others.  But no point in working full out for several days and then being too tired to keep up, so pacing himself.  14° air temperature.  Overcast, but sun peeking through occasionally. Lots of albatrosses.  Deck still being swept by lot of water.

12^th + 218.5 miles. Dominique Wavre (Temenos):  Excellent conditions for his boat and he feels in form.  Well-balanced and pilot working well.  Spending 5-6 hours at the helm. Pleasant to be at wheel.  Not too wet and has been listening to music and drinking coffee, so enjoying himself.  Boat designed to allow him to be at the helm and enjoy himself.  A low moving in, but not to worried, as still not certain about its movement.

14^th + 434 miles Sam Davies (ROXY): Busy morning. Very wet and dull.  Had a rest this morning.  Talked to Brian Thompson who told her sunrise was beautiful, but she missed it. Needs to eat more but appetite should increase as colder.

22^nd + 1459 miles Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Ocean Vitale): Intended to shelter off island of Trindade, so headed for Brazil.  Lost 600 miles. Managed to repair problem.  Can't sail under full mainsail, but back in race. Rough conditions

translation and interpretation : Jeremy  Payne

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