Vendée Globe

Breaking through the 500 miles mark this morning, Michel Desjoyeaux now leads by 535 miles, at the current differential that means Foncia could finish going between one and a half days and two days ahead of Roland Jourdain.

Foncia will slow a little as he goes through the Azores high off the Canaries, but he is going well in 25 knots of NE’ly trade-winds.

After one of the most frustrating 48 hours of his Vendée Globe, Roland Jourdain is going well now. The NE’ly trades have not been as kind to him but they are getting stronger now and he has been returning 10 knot averages for the last 24 hours. Nothing has been straightforward for him and when yesterday he thought he was clear, last night he was swallowed up again. But, in turn he is just over 500 miles ahead of Armel Le Cléac’h.

Le Cleach in third does not think he is in the Doldrums yet, they are now less active but wider but he has been making averages of 8.7 to 9.7 knots

Beach combing.

Marc Guillemot’s coastal hopping seems to have been paying off and he is making 10.5 knots this morning, but it has been stressful and intense, avoiding the traffic, fishing boats, oil rigs. He was 30.5 miles off the coat this morning and 93 miles ahead of Sam again and going two knots faster.

Sam Davies has tacked for the NE’lies now though they are still quite light, and will continue much the same around 10 knots.

The trio are well split now. Arnaud Boissières is heading NW now, in eighth place. He is now 120 miles behind Dee Caffari on Aviva.

Dee was going best of this threesome this morning and has pulled back a few miles on Brian Thompson who is 74 miles ahead this morning. They have a line of squally lows

Steve White going fine just now, breeze has freed him a little after more than 24 hours of upwind sailing, but he has been making good miles in conditions which are neither good, nor comfortable for his boat.

Rich Wilson 720 miles from

is enjoying flatter seas and easier conditions:

Here is a summary of what the French speaking skippers said this morning:

Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air):  Not yet in the Doldrums, which are about ten hours away.  For the moment trade winds are correct as he approaches Fernando de Noronha.  Always said that it is only at Equator will it be possible to compare Marc’s progress with his.  Still a few traps ahead.  Busy looking at satellite charts to find best way through the Doldrums.  Mixture of luck, experience and technical skills. Clear skies for moment and can’t yet see the squalls ahead.  Has had different conditions from two frontrunners on his way back up from the Horn

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia): Boat speed 15 knots.  Some sunshine for past couple of hours.  Rough, cross seas and boat being shaken around at these speeds. Wind has eased off slightly.  25-30 knots wind during the night with stronger gusts.   Temperature starting to drop off slowly.  Wind 60°-90° and swell from 60°.  Not easy to find an angle to face these waves and boat slamming even with more ballast in bow.   Out of 250 kg of food he still has 100kg aboard.  30l of fuel left, so boat that not much lighter than at start.  Boat is OK in spite of being tossed around.

Marc Guillemot (Safran):  Feeling very tired sailing along the coast, where there are a lot of oil rigs and boats.  Impossible to sleep in such conditions.  Heard some fishermen shouting at him as they had a line out and he had got caught in it.  They were about 50 metres away and didn’t look very happy.  Ten miles further on he saw another line, but it stretched out for several miles.  Light winds further out so got closer to land to pick up thermal breeze.  Would have preferred to be further out to see, but no wind out there.  (Alarm keeps ringing as close to boats and oil rigs)  Weather charts show that later he will be able to move further away from the coast.

Roland Jourdain, (Veolia Environnement). I won’t forget these Doldrums.  They were really cruel to me.  Yesterday thought he was out, but clouds moved in over him, with rain throughout the night with 5cm of water in the cockpit.  One of the worst nights in the whole Vendée Globe.Upwind sailing in the trade winds for a few days ahead – can be hard on the boat when seas are rough and winds not strong.  The weather charts keep changing.  Has heard some cracking noises, but he says it’s healthy noise.

Ends

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