He has no plans to sail especially conservatively, but what happens now will be down to luck. While the Doldrums ahead look quite wide and active, so they should remain the same for second placed Bilou, Roland Jourdain. 

With a ‘classic’ weather situation in the North Atlantic, mainly westerly airflow, he should regain the Vendée Globe course record, despite it being a longer course and him re-starting 40 hours after the fleet.

Vincent Riou’s record of 87 days 10 hours, 47 minutes looks certain to fall.  

Rich Wilson reached the SE Pacific Ice Gate at 1040hrs GMT this morning.

Here is the summary of what this morning’s radio vacations discovered from French speaking skippers:

1^st: Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia):  Busy tidying up inside.  Mathematical calculations don’t mean that much as you have to consider other elements, so he was right the other day about his lead over Bilou of around 400 miles.  Doldrums look more complicated than usual.  Has been getting satellite info directly.  Thinks he will be slowed a bit but should get through. Strong winds after the Doldrums.  Should have a westerly flow in North Atlantic, so an arc to the west. Not a lot to do in terms of strategy.  Needs to remain concentrated, but no complex situations to worry him.  ETA 1st or 2nd Feb

Main problem since being in the lead is the pressure to stay in the lead, but doesn’t feel increased pressure now. It’s lasted a long time already so is getting used to it.  There is the possibility of not winning, but everything is fine on the boat.

2^nd: Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement): Squally weather and calms as if he was in the Doldrums.  Thought he’d got out of those conditions at yesterday.  Can see Mich Desj getting away.  A bad Sunday. “ As long as there’s life, there’s hope.”  It’s going to be tough as distance is growing, but there are the Doldrums, which may slow Michel down. In it until the finish and racing as if he can still win.  Wind up to 30 knots in squalls, then very light outside of them.  Hot out on deck doing manoeuvres.  Sea temperature 26°C - Air temperature 29.1° this morning.  A couple of rainbows in sky as sky seems to be clearing.  Some flying fish.     The hunting season as far as Desjoyeaux is concerned is open until early February.

7^th Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas):  Much finer weather than a couple days ago. Finally opened his St Emilion yesterday and enjoyed a vacuum-packed couscous.  Even if a long way to go heading north gives you the impression, you are heading home.  Pleasant conditions and for first time for a while carried out manoeuvres at night.  A bit of a race for him with Brian only 73 miles ahead and Dee behind.  Talked a lot during storm off the Horn and Brian gave him useful information.  Wind has come around so close-reaching.  No serious damage during the big storm.  Needs to climb mast in calmer weather to check everything, but everything looks fine.