Second behind Foncia since December 16^th Jourdain has made over 110 miles since Monday night and this morning has earned another 10 miles doing 10.4 knots as against 8.7 knots for the leader. Desjoyeaux has now 4654 miles to the Ahead the SE’ly tradewinds are not so well formed at the moment but the leader hopes to be clear into them later this afternoon.

In third Armel Le Cléac’h Brit Air has been crossing the middle of a small low pressure system and so was slow and so The Jackal has had predatory instincts dulled for a while, making just 8.9 knots this morning.

For Dee Caffari, Arnaud Boissieres and Brian Thompson, they are facing up to really stormy conditions off Cape Horn. According to Meteo France winds this morning wind are starting to build again and from around 6pm tonight Aviva will see gusts to 50kts, the winds will drop for Dee and Arnaud at the Horn but then a very active low pressure will hit them in the Maire Strait, giving N to NE'ly winds reaching 80 knots.

Their best solution is to try and outrun it, according to Sylvain Mondon of Météo France, looking to make an average speed of 12 knots to get far enough north, round the corner. Caffari was reported to be more confident she can do this, but alternatively trying to slow and shelter in the lee of Staten Island is a possibility. Brian Thompson has more chance of getting away from the worst of it and should be around Cape Horn in the small hours of tomorrow morning GMT. Caffari's mainsail already requires more repairs after the last storm (see pic)

At 1000hrs this morning Marc Guillemot (Safran) stopped in the Falklands to make his second repair to his mast track after stopping also in the Auckland Islands.

Sam Davies has been having weed problems, she has big strands pulled on to the decks of Roxy and backed up several times, but is still fighting hard, maintaining some good average speeds.

Steve White was quickest in the fleet this morning 13.8 knots, he will catch the south side of this tropical low as well, as will Rich and this afternoon will be having SW’ly winds 50 knots, while behind Rich Wilson will be having very strong SE’lies.

Here is a summary of the French speaking radio vacations this morning:

Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas):  Huge waves and strong winds yesterday.  Boat knocked down.  Fleet 77 washed overboard, so had to take care of that.  Worst conditions since the start of the race. Chatted quite a lot to Dee, who explained about her sail damage.  32-33 knots at the moment, but seas allowing better speed than yesterday. Another storm arriving tonight

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia): Still heeled over, but on one tack until Doldrums, now so doesn't need to keep stacking. "Accordion" effect with Bilou, so nothing odd.  Thinks he will extend his lead ahead, so doesn't think the gap is really changing significantly.  Thinks he was lucky to get through difficult zone after the Horn, especially when we see how Armel has been slowed. He quipped that he reckons probably 28th-30^th for Equator, but cannot plan that far ahead.  Took a look at 15 day forecast, but not reliable.  am not an astrologist, but ETA Les Sables first week of February.  Will know more at the Equator.