Vendée Globe

French speaking skippers joined the first visitors to the Salon Nautique, the Paris Boat Show, today, here is a summary of what they revealed. Only Jean Le Cam was moved to sing....

2^nd place Yann Eliès (Générali):  Some high and low moments.  This morning rather low.  Needs to get the boat moving again after a rest and some pasta.  He was tired and not motivated earlier this morning, after a busy evening.  Passed over shallow banks yesterday evening with Josse and eased off as seas were very rough.  Saw Jojo broach and contacted him.   Later seas calmed during the night and winds are now down to ten knots. Calm zone, while Armel Le Cléac'h and Loïck Peyron have more wind, but in the long run doesn't see much difference.  Southern option is more dangerous as closer to ice. Still very much like a Figaro race.

5^th place  Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air):  After a rough night, calmer now.  Surfing at more than 25 knots and sometimes hard on the boat.  Inspection time this morning after the battering.  29.29 knots - boat hit record speed. Hoisted more sail as much quieter this morning.  Going to have to study how to get through this transition zone.  Soon be time to turn right - probably tomorrow.  Heat from engine on and clothes drying.  Inside it's like an airing cupboard. Has some packets to open when he passes longitude of the Cape tomorrow.  Yesterday three boats within sight.

6^th place…..Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux):  Much calmer today.  Waiting for the wind to come around, as very little at the moment, but only a short break.  Should get going again in an hour or so. Wind is expected to strengthen to 35-40 like yesterday.  Peak speeds round 28 yesterday.  You have to trust the automatic pilot.  "Trust in Me" (sings song from The Jungle Book...)  For a while badly positioned in relation to the others, but now back in the right place.  Caught sight of Bilou yesterday, which is incredible after this distance.

7^th place…..Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement): After a rough night, no wind now.  Thought that he was in right place, but safe and sound at least.  Others further north have stronger winds.  Blaming routing software, as that doesn't think of what sailor has to do. Eased off yesterday as worried about boat, like most of the others, except Michel Desjoyeaux, who seems to be able to keep going at high speed.  Lots of albatrosses appeared this morning.

22^nd place… Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Groupe Maisonneuve): Surfing in excess of thirty knots during the night as conditions were perfect, allowing him to cover more than 400 miles in 24 hours. Currently around 25 knots of boat speed and expecting this to last for another day and a half.  Boat and sailor like these conditions.  Yesterday was very sunny, so using solar panels, but now a bit duller.  Not easing off and hopes to catch some of those ahead. as long as boat is willing, he's continuing.   Pleased to have restarted race and enjoying himself.  Has caught people before far south, so achieved his objective.

Translations and interpretation by Jeremy Payne

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