Well set in the established NE’lies of about 20 knots he is heading a little more west to get round the

Azores

high pressure system which strethes west from the Canaries. He will see the NE’lies veer a little, later today.

Therafter it does look like a speedy arrival in Les Sables for Mich’ Desj’, latest ETA is midnight 31^st and midnight 02^nd. 

Desjoyeaux has further refused to give details about the problems which he says nearly ended his race, other than today to confirm that he was approaching the first Pacific Ice Gate in 40 knots of wind and had to slow to six knots of boat speed.  

Behind him Roland Jourdain crossed the equator at 0830 GMT this morning, some consolation after a painful, slow night making just a few knots at times. Things have picked up for him, making 10.8 knots at 1000hrs but his average was just 6.1 knots.

He had about 70 miles to go to get into the first of the NE’ly trade winds and so Desjoyeaux will carry on gaining, almost certainly back over 500 miles.

Up ahead though, the Azores High is moving slowly east and so the Veolia Environnement skipper will have slightly fewer miles to sail.

Armel Le Cléac’h on BritAir, in third, still has about 200 miles to go to the Doldrums, and it is likely to be a stop-go day for him dealing with a squally low pressure system. He was about 140 miles SE of Recife this morning.

Marc Guillemot was very much in range of Le Cléac’h ‘The Jackal’,  but he has been losing miles. This morning he was only 31 miles off the Cabo de Sao Tome, the next point up from Cape Frio and is heading NW, still closer to the beach, perhaps looking to get some extra land effect breeze.

Offshore, 225 miles to the east, Sam Davies on Roxy had picked up again and is doing 12.3 knots, second quickest in the fleet after Mich Desj.

The trio have been in the middle of a high pressure ridge. Dee Caffari has he main back up to full hoist for the first time in, literally, weeks. She has picked up again after spending more than three hours time fixing one side of her main. She is 31.1 miles behind Thompson and was making 8.9 knots to Thompson’s 7.4 knots.

Arnaud Boissières is well to the west of them now, with over 260 miles of separation and over 120 miles behind Dee.

Thompson and Caffari look set to have a relatively slow day, They have some wind from a small low to their NE but it is unlikely to stay with them. Steve White on Toe in the Water is going OK, but has 40-45 knots upwind. He is about 150 miles NE of the Falklands, while Rich Wilson is under 900 miles to Cape Horn.

Here is a summary of what the French speaking skippers had to say at today’s Radio Broadcast:

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia):  Not too bad this morning.  Has found good trade winds, so taking advantage.  25 knots of wind.  During the night very variable winds in squalls, so didn’t get much sleep.  Boat still slamming into waves.  Will talk about his near disaster at the finish.  Says it could have ended his race.  Happened in 40 knots of wind.  One night slowed down to 6 knots when he should have been doing twice that, but no one seemed to notice. Happened at approach to first Pacific gate.  Will only give his ETA further north, as for the moment cannot be predicted.  Would be nice to arrive on a Sunday though. I’m not easy to catch, but I’m ready if Bilou wants to try anything.  Thinks he will be reaching Azores high at a good moment, as a few days earlier would have been a problem.  After the Azores details remain vague and keep changing. The max wind I had was 53 knots of real wind. I saw some huge seas, but nothing like Sébastien Josse

Sébastien Josse (BT):  The Vendée globe is a marathon race.  You can’t make the boats any more solid, but they have faced some extreme conditions right from the start. His boat was knocked down by a huge breaker.  Very often conditions are worse after wind has passed as seas remain boat breaking. Boat still in Auckland for a few repairs and due to return to Europe in mid-April.  Plans to take part in Round Britain + Ireland, Fastnet and Jacques Vabre.  Desjoyeaux is Desjoyeaux and not surprise to see him.  Not just luck, as he has a real talent and was always going to be a threat. The Vendée Globe is not just a race, but an adventure.  Safer with Ice Gates, but that hasn’t stopped competitors from seeing ice.  No absolute safety in those waters.  At an average speed in the Southern Ocean of 20 knots, it has to be stressful for the sailor and hard on the boats.

Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas):  Didn’t get any sleep as wanted to ensure he wasn’t becalmed.  Constant manoeuvres, as wind fluctuating.  Now sailing between 8 and 10 knots. A little bit more wind since this morning so boat advancing better. Feels like the Mediterranean in the summer.  Only a few high clouds.  Calm seas and warm weather. The wind due to swing right around to east, so a light transition zone first.   Dee got away from him in Falklands, as they’re not on the same course. Gap isn’t that big and looking forward to getting back up with her.  His route may be risky, but he is ready to attack.  Has been under same sails as Dee but in light airs with a newer boat, she can sail faster.

Sam Davies (Roxy) Finally has got through the front.  10-knot northerly wind and sunshine.  Huge clouds behind her appear to be following.  Spent the night in the rain trying to find a way through.  Still thinks she is better positioned than Safran. Marc will not have such a good angle, when he gets trade winds.  But it is complicated weather situation.