1h36 : «Everything is fine on board. Will write more when I'm able. xxxx » Dee Caffari (Aviva)

1h39 : «Lots of little repair jobs to do . Tomorrow will be better. I'm sad about Yaya (Yannick Bestaven) and Kito (de Pavant). I'm trying to look after my « veranda » in these seas. The change in wind direction was extremely sudden: the boat came around all by herself, as it was so quick. Afterwards, there was a quick clean-up operation below to get everything stowed… » Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)

4h58 : «We're taking advantage of the calmer conditions to eat and sleep a little. Have seen several cargo ships off Cape Finisterre.» Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air)

Alex Thomson's Hugo Boss team have issued this statement:

" After 32 hours of horrendous Biscay conditions in the Vendee Globe race, Alex Thomson is returning to Les Sables d’Olonne following the discovery of a structural problem onboard HUGO BOSS.  A crack has appeared on the port side hull, the opposite side to the recent repair.

At 19.45 GMT Alex Thomson turned HUGO BOSS around to head back to Les Sables d’Olonne. Thomson is in no imminent danger; the boat is taking on water, but at a manageable rate. On arrival in Les Sables D’Olonne the damage will be assessed. He is currently approximately 290 miles from the port.

HUGO BOSS will be the eighth yacht to return to Les Sables D’Olonne since the race start on Sunday afternoon.  The Vendee Globe rules only allow the competing yachts to return to Les Sables D’Olonne to carry out repairs using outside assistance and restart the race within a 10 day window of Sunday 9th November (the start date)."

Groupe Bel have just informed the Race Office that Kito de Pavant has been dismasted and has been forced to head back, probably towards Les Sables d'Olonne. As well as the mast breaking, the boom and one of the carbon deck spreaders is broken. Bel was positioned 260 miles from Les Sables d'Olonne.

Apologies but there is a short delay to the publication of the 2000hrs local/1900hrs GMT classifications.

Derek Hatfield on Algimouss Spirit of Canada is reported to now be the fifth skipper who is returning to Les Sables d'Olonne. He is the third citing some form of electrical problems as the reason to return to the start port.

"We can't wait for the front to arrive. Everything is very wet and we have 3 reefs and are sailing under ORC storm jib. There are some huge waves, the visibility is reduced and there are cargo ships all around. I took advantage of that to try out the radar. Several times, I had to stack the gear away. The stacking boxes tend to get thrown around right up to the ceiling. Everything is fine and I'm pleased to be at sea."