The Professor has been in the trade winds since last night and his gains are now very nearly 100 miles over Roland Jourdain in the last 36 hours and he is set to profit at the same rate for another 12 hours or so. It does look very much as if the die is now being cast.

In his wake, his long time friend from Port la Foret, Roland Jourdain looks increasingly secure in second place, second fastest in the fleet and his speed on Veolia Environnement has increased steadily through today.

With the exception of Jourdain who is still showing steely determination and will be the next to emerge from the tentacles of the high pressure, the other competitors in the Atlantic are showing clear signs of tiredness. Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) admitted as much after struggling in unstable, thundery conditions, while Marc Guillemot (Safran) was trying to rest after an exhausting day of light airs and boat-breaking seas.  Even Sam Davies (Roxy) for once was feeling tired after light winds slowed down her progress.

Further to the south Dee Caffari, too, was looking forward to building up some rest after dealing with successive storms approaching and at Cape Horn.

On this morning’s radio vacations, Caffari sounded hoarse and tired but was delighted to be heading north back up the Atlantic. She acknowledged she will lose miles to those in front of her when she makes a major repair to her mainsail, probably on Tueday, but after that she wants to get back to pushing Aviva hard to try and show that she ‘can give the boys a run for their money.’

Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) will become a ‘Cape Horner’ probably on Monday afternoon or evening on his 13 years vintage Open 60 Toe in the Water. White has been making mental plans for the next four years to try and ensure that the next time he goes around Cape Horn he is with the leading pack on a faster, more modern boat.

Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva): “ We are heading north now so that is very exciting. We still have a good 35 knots, and a lot of rain clouds going over and that increases the wind to 40 knots as they go over, but it will decrease to 25 to 30 knots of wind.”

On the last stormIt was quite anxious in the build up. We knew the storm would be big and we knew that it would be nasty. And so together with Meteo France and with the Race Direction we might the right decision and so together with Akena we had a very pleasant tour of the Continental Shelf round Cape Horn, and then we had strong south westerlies which were freezing but I did not see more than 55 knots. We all made the right decision, we all got through and we are all heading north now.

Now I am kind of on hold until I can fix my mainsail, so it is a case of going north while I can and getting some rest.

It was under quite surreal circumstances. Akena and I were heading upwind and I was just thinking, ‘….unbelievable, please don’t let me pass Cape Horn upwind because that would just be crazy. But, no, it lived up to its reputation, the notorious Cape Horn and we endured it with a storm, but it was nice to have ticked the box, and it was nice as well, a little delayed, for Arnaud on Akena to celebrate his first Cape Horn rounding.

It is breezy for a few days. At the moment it looks like the 21st will be the first opportunity to do it, which is a shame because we are going to lose a few miles.

Hopefully I’ll get this fix done and I’ll be back to full speed until the next area falls apart, but it’ll definitely get me home somehow. We have got some plans. I just need to be able to hoist my main and fly some normal sails and get on the pace, and hopefully close the gap that I am going to lose.

As soon as the guys start hoisting the reefs out I’ll lose quite rapidly.

To actually be still in this race is a real achievement given the attrition rate. I am just keen now, after recovering from the Southern Ocean you have so much more confidence in the boat, that I am keen to get back up to full speed and push. It is a race and I do want to be racing, and firmly believe I can give the boys a run for their money, but there is still time.”

Marc Guillemot: “ I don't know whether you can hear.  The sails are being washed by torrential rain.  It's really beating down on the coach roof, suggesting that we're not likely to see high speeds. This is the first heavy rain we've had.  This morning, I woke up in a thundery system: rain squalls and winds spinning around in every direction.  I had hoped to be out of it, but it's coming and going.  I hadn't seen it coming.  With no wind, yesterday was the worst day of the Vendée Globe: boat-breaking seas and a splitting headache with the storm.  It was very tiring. When the boat is slamming, it feels like she's about to explode. The boat is suffering and the sailor too.  It requires a lot of energy and it's nerve racking time.  To get out of it, I tried to follow the wind. We have to find each puff to make headway north.  I am remaining cautious about my mainsail track, which isn't as solid as I would have liked.  In any case, we can't wait for the next stage. I'm looking forward to the trade winds, but you have to take each thing as it comes.” 

Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy): “ We're sailing much slower than yesterday. I've been slowed down by the high. On the other hand, the skies are clear and the sun is out.  I'm now down to five knots.  What is hard in light winds is that it's better without the autopilot and you have to be very reactive. If there is not enough wind, the pilot stops and the boat drifts.  This is the first time I have been able to relax on Roxy.  I am going to be able to clean, and dry my foulies and boots... I have  a list of things to do.  It is very long, as I have a lot of things to check over on the deck, down below and even under the water, such as looking at the propeller blades, for example.  I also have some work to do because of the wear.  I'll also be putting on the head torch and to check out the compartments and bulkheads.  As for my physical checklist, my body lets me know that I need to eat.  I slept for several hours last night and now I feel relaxed.   It is nice to be able to hoist more sail.”