He has just 466.8 miles to complete. If he carries on on his current course to pass Cape Finisterre into the SE corner of the Bay of Biscay, in another 190 miles he would cross his outward track for the first time, otherwise it will be further north, off Les Sables before he effectively ‘closes the loop’.
The Foncia skipper did refer to an arrival around the hour of Mass some days ago, this is still well within range. “I even warned Brother Jean-Marie de la Chaume (a region of Sables d’Olonne near Port Olonna) who asked me the question via internet on the Team FONCIA website. Duties may well be disturbed. I suggested he come to the finish with his congregation so as to enjoy the festivities!”

One of Desjoyeaux’s final considerations has been the shedding of a number of containers during last week’s storms. He said recently  “We’ve been warned about the presence of containers at 43°26 N and 14°01 W, which fell into the sea on 25th January. I’ve noted their positions and they’re across my route in 78 miles time! I’ve looked at the winds to estimate how they’ll drift and I reckon they’ll be heading towards the S, SE or even E. As such I’m going to sail above them. After that I’ll see what kind of coursey I’m on…”

“ I’ve always felt happy on this circumnavigation of the globe!”  he concludes.

Roland Jourdain has gybed on to a more north westerly course and is making 11.5 knots this evening, three knots quicker that Armel Le Cléac’h on Brit Air.

Brian Thompson had 39 miles to the Equator at 1830hrs GMT and should cross back into Northern Hemisphere by 2130hrs GMT, he is slanted on a more NW’ly course now as is Dee Caffari who has lost some of her gain because she is now moving away from the rhumb line route, as Thompson was earlier. Direct line Caffari is 107 miles behind on Aviva.

Arnaud Boissieres is passing the latitude of Salvador de Bahia, making just 6.7 knots this evening while Steve White is heading offshore, NE, and is making 8.8 knots. Rich Wilson is 500 miles NE of the Falklands. And the highlight of Monday morning should be Raphael Dinelli passing Cape Horn.