1^st Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2):  Had some problems yesterday.  Bit of a drama, when the wind was getting up.  Rope used to furl gennaker broke.  40 knot winds forecast for the afternoon, so it took him four hours to try to deal with problem using another furler and a lashing.  Tons of water crashing over boat and very bumpy ride out on deck.  After that, went to eat and pilot failed and boat broached and went over 90°.  Frozen hands and certainly not an easy task. Difficult to describe.  Terrible day.  Southerly option paid off, as others forced to gybe.  Winds were stronger than forecast and very heavy swell.  Boat slammed into a wave yesterday and he was thrown a couple metres from his bunk and banged his head.  More wind than those behind, but wind easing off too.

3^rd Sébastien Josse (BT):  Shaken up yesterday with 35 knots of wind but in particular rough seas where shelf rises up.  Calming now, but still confused seas.  Not real southern surf, more like seas off Cape Finisterre.  Leaders will extend lead, but then gaps will be reduced again, when next low arrives. Finds black inside his boat relaxing;  Living like a hermit.  Bit like a night club, except no bouncer and no bar.  Sea  temperature just over 5°, so cautious about ice.  Doesn't want to dive south like his rivals. Insists he is being reasonable and will remain reasonable.

4^th Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80):  Bit of work to do and a transition ahead.  Confused seas, but getting some rest as wind has eased off.  Everything fine up until now, but always has in his head the idea that something could happen.  Yesterday was excellent for speed with surfing conditions. Lots of birds.  Reckons that his boat stirs up plankton attracting them. Nothing as majestic as an albatross. Learning about his boat in such downwind conditions.  Has to keep speed up, if he doesn't want to get caught, so it's not a question of finding the right pace.  Has already read ten books and has forty with him.

6^th Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia): Good night, and he managed to keep up with frontrunners in spite of them having more wind in theory.   Could lose a few miles as wind eases off later today.  Sails as he thinks fit.  With the wind on the beam, hard work enables you to sail faster.  Hasn't had any crash gybes, and that is what is hard on the boat, not fast sailing. Hasn't been at the helm for several days.  Went into his bunk and slept during the night.

17^th  Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas):  Passed longitude of Cape of Good Hope, so celebrated.  Those behind are slowed down, so he's satisfied. Rain and sleet during the night.  Now has swell building in 20-25 knots of wind.  Thinks frontrunners are having a great race - more like a transatlantic race.  Not worried about eating freeze-dried food, as it's a race not a gastronomic cruise