Vendée Globe

Dee Caffari passed the longitude of Cape Horn at about 1015hrs GMT this morning, becoming the eighth skipper to enter into the Atlantic Ocean.  Caffari's celebrations are on ice for the meantime as she deals with the strong SW'ly winds and a malicious low pressure system .

Brian Thompson confirmed on this morning’s radio vacation that he is moving off in a NE’ly direction in quite big and confused seas and will have to moderate his speed over the coming hours, since the quicker he goes the more faster he will reach the strongest winds and most confused seas.

Almost exactly on cue, as per the Meteo France precisions, her reported at 1125GMT that the breeze had dropped, backed into the SW and had suddenly built to 30-40 knots. He has been sailing under deep reefed main with no headsail most of the time.

At the front Michel Desjoyeaux is moving better now, averaging 10.3 knots this morning and gaining 11 miles from Bilou who is now 281 miles ahead. He expected to be getting into the SE trades at 20 degrees S but it is proving more difficult to get there and it looks like it will be nearer 15 degrees S that they will get the more solid SE’ly trades, so another 150 miles.

Roxy had a slow night, Sam Davies said this morning she has had very little wind - 0.00 kts at one point -but has picked up speed and is averaging 10 knots again.  Steve White has been going like a train in the strong winds, he has gained 120 miles on the Cape Horn Three and this morning confirmed he has been musing over his plans for the future. He would like to gain more experience alongside a very well established, good skipper and perhaps involve himself much more in the French ‘school’ of IMOCA Open 60 learning. He was on the point of changing up to his Solent headsail as winds had eased back from the gusty 28-40 knots he had been seeing.  

Rich Wilson has had 45-50 knots and has been under deep reefed main and storm jib on Great American III, while behind him the duel between Raphael Dinelli and Norbert Sedlacek is all on again, 17 miles between them and Norbert making quicker averages than the Sablais skipper.

Here is today’s round up of what the French speaking skippers had to say:

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia): A lot better up here than down at the Horn apparently. During the night variable and a lot of manoeuvres in squalls, but I now have steadier winds (15 knots), more or less on direct route.  Some sunshine with a few clouds, but squalls seem to have gone. Bilou was surprised to see me slowed down.  He was lucky to carry out repairs when I was slowed with headwinds.  Might be better if I was further east, but have a decent lead.

We're lucky to be able to do a job we like doing. Time passes very quickly.

Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement):  I have enough wind to sail correctly.  The sea is only a little bit choppy, the sun is out and it's hot off Brazil.  The repair is holding out, even if I always have my doubts. Pleased to be further east than Michel, as I didn't want to get too close to the coast, as I have some bad memories of this coast. The ridge of high pressure is resisting as a powerful high feeding it.  I'm stepping up the pace gradually.  Maybe the damage I have had has taught me to ease off at times and attack at others.  I don't have any lucky mascot with me, as I'm always afraid of losing it.  Just opened my Christmas presents and found lots of presents - CDs, books.  Sea temp 25, air temp this morning at 29°C. A few flying fish have landed on the deck.   Able now to take a shower anyway, which is pleasant.  Doldrums look like they are positioned to the west.

Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas):  I headed south to avoid the worst of the storm. The wind arrived a bit later than forecast. 35 knots of wind and seas are building and it feels very cold. After Pacific experience has checked that everything is firmly fixed in place.  Carried out an inspection yesterday afternoon. I'm shut inside the boat.  Occasionally I take a quick look outside, but the door is remaining closed until the worst has passed over. I'm eating and sleeping normally, keeping an eye on the barometer.  Expecting sea state to get much worse. I'm pleased to have rounded the Horn. But I didn't open my bottle of wine.  The St. Emilion will be for tomorrow...

 Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Ocean Vital): Still sailing upwind to next Pacific Gate.  In contact with Norbert. Wants to avoid a collision, as very close to each other. Nice to be in contact with someone close. Very different weather from at the Horn.  After the gate should be getting some moderate downwind sailing. Has been sailing upwind for five days with barometer stuck at 1020 millibar.  Thinks he was right to postpone repairs until after the Horn and reassured to be sailing with Norbert.  The goal isn't for either of them to fight it out - that's not their goal in this race. Objective is to return home safely. Thinks he will have enough food, and has been paying attention to that

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