"I've got 25 knots of wind and Cheminées Poujoulat is sailing downwind with the sea just about cross enough to make it a bit tricky.  There's a lot to do out on deck, but we're making good headway.  I'm trying to sail cleanly, making as few mistakes as possible.  I'm hoping to move up a few places, as there are a few boats within my grasp.  After for the others, that's a different story. However, there's a long way to go and a lot of complicated weather patterns ahead, so nothing is impossible. "  Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) on today's radio session.

 

Please accept our apologies for the delay in bringing you this morning's 11h rankings.  
The rankings and race tracker have now been updated.

"I can see PRB a mile downwind of me. He got back up with me during the night.  I think I didn't have the spinnaker well trimmed early on , but now I'm off again. He's a good hare to be chasing after today! The major problem is the shift in the wind this morning. The weather is not very certain and the forecasts contradict each other. Between two different forecasts, it's black and white.  It's going to take a lot of reflection to find the right route through the Cape Verde Islands without falling into their shadow. We're more than 60 miles from Cape Verde, but you can still find wind holes.  A complicated day ahead! " Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec Virbac 2)

 

"Daybreak over BritAir.  The sun is finding it difficult to peek through the clouds, but it's already hot. Some kamikaze flying fish landed on the deck during the night and I've been counting the bits of mess they have left behind. We can just see to our left the Cape Verde Islands and the port of Mindelo (memories of a forced stopover there last year...).
Thought I could hear some music from Cape Verde in the distance last night and maybe even Cesaria Evora...unless I was dreaming...
To keep it short. Am gliding south at the start of this second week and soon time to think about how to approach the Doldrums. We'll see once the conclave has made its judgement."
Armel Le Cléac'h on BritAir

 

"Excellent sailing, as can be seen from the log. I'm trying to work on my talent at the helm to be in the best of shape for the southern seas. With a force 6 NE'ly at the moment. Have been at the helm for more than 26 hours now. All's well on board. Should be passing the Canaries early in the morning."  Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch)

 

"Since the start, I've been trying to find reasons to do the race, which I've just started. That is quite normal, as I have had to put up with two calm zones since Les Sables.  Nothing goes as planned, but I couldn't have imagined this sort of scenario.  This is a universe I wouldn't have signed up for, if someone had offered it to me. I'm a bit like a spectator in this race that I have worked so hard to prepare with all my team for months and even years.  So there was one question that kept popping up.  What's the use?  It seems almost impossible to try to get back up with the leaders, unless there is a series of weather complications, which would favour the tail-enders, and that's like playing the lottery. But that does not mean it's impossible.  If I hadn't given it a go, it would have stayed with me for a very long time, so that's why I had to do it. Among other reasons. At the moment, I'm under spinnaker and full mainsail with between 15 and 20 knots.  Cheminées Poujoulat is gliding downwind with seas that are just crossed enough to make it a bit tougher.  That's why it was worth it." Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat)