Here is an abbreviated summary of what French speaking skippers said in today’s radio vacs:

Vincent Riou (PRB):
Getting better.  Wind picking up.  Not thinking too much about it, but moving to W of Madeira to avoid wind shadow.  Not a real option, but simplest solution.  Tired and bruised after two days of bad weather so taking it easy.  Has rarely been shaken up as much.

Asked about the lack of  Desjoyeaux  at the front? 
Sorry for him, but thinks still possible. Had a slight problem with ballast too with broken pipe, but nothing like Desj problem. Was able to repair it.

Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)
Starting to rain in squall.  Leaving Madeira to starboard.  More wind but more northerly and variable. 15-28 knots of wind.  For route past Canaries will decide this evening.

Loick Peyron (Gitana 80):
Seas still choppy, but good speed.  Computer came up with route to west.  Hadn't really thought much about it.  Peak speed 20 knots averaging 15 knots. Requires a lot of work.  Hasn't really slept since start.  Wind so variable and lots of manoeuvres.  Need to remain attentive to wind shifts.  Little repair jobs.  Twice boat bore away.  Tiring with movement in storm.

Raphael Dinelli (Océan Vital)
Doesn't have same sails as others.  Thinking of going east of Madeira.  Keeping an eye on batteries as down to 50% due to lack of sunshine.  Has been tidying up, adjustments, little repairs.    Squalls during the night. Broached for first time.  In 5 or 6 days will be able to judge whether batteries able to cope.  Cloudy weather ahead...  So reducing energy consumption.

Yann Eliès (Generali) 
Under small spinnaker.  20-25 knots of wind and 14-20 knots of boat speed.  Cautious about squalls and acceleration, but on the attack, as wants to get back with leaders.  Most of the time out on deck, but gradually confidence building.  About to eat chicken curry.   Only 50 miles behind but regrets tactical errors.  Wanted to be within 100 miles of leaders by South.

Jean Le Cam (VM Materiaux)
Hesitates about whether right choice (going east), but not too badly placed.  Speed between 16 and 20 knots Wind  strengthening so hopes to do better
 

"Another tricky old night on board. I had to gybe away from an area of light winds early this morning, hoping that the wind would come round to the ENE allowing me to point to my next waypoint around the Canaries. This all went to plan until about an hour after I had gybed, when a series of big squalls have pushed the wind back round more to the north. This is not great, but every now and again I get a glimpse of the true wind direction, so hopefully it will come good. If doesn't I will have to gybe back once I have the next weather model in.
One of the stand-up blocks across the semicircular track has lifted off the deck, so I have to try and put it back down. It is quite a time consuming job, important that I get it right, if it peels off then only the satellite dome on the back will take the load of the traveller - and not for long!
Still very frustrating being so far behind. It's not the boats fault, I think she is quick, I just haven't been able to get the most out of her - yet. It is suddenly clear in a fleet of this calibre.
We finally have some sun this morning which is nice, all I need now is a nice wind shift and the day will be great!! Am trying to get into a routine with the weather, food, charging the batteries etc, which will help things. Would have liked to have been into this routine sooner, but have not had time, as I have felt that the boat has not been all that fast."  Jonny Malbon on Artemis 2.

«This evening, we will have finished almost of the external work: port hull and starboard deck. There will remain the starboard hull and all the inside with a lot of stratification to do to ensure the joins.» Soizic Dubois, Maisonneuve team manager.
 

«The work goes on around the clock.  The conditions are quite good: no wind and dry weather with sunshine by day, although a bit too cold at night. Under the tarpaulins with fan heaters, we've managed to receate the conditions to bake the composites.» Malric Leborgne, engineer in composite structures. 

Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty's boat could be ready to set sail on Sunday evening.

 

«I've fallen into some calms! I thought everything would be fine, if we skirted by the edge of the high, but the wind died away! I've had to do a lot of gybes to get away from this area. I did several tacks yesterday afternoon. The wind shifted by 40° from one side to the other. The lads up at the front got away at good speed. I thought PRB and Brit Air would be in the same mess, but they got through. That's the way it is! What reassures me is that behind, they are not doing any better.  I think too, I haven't always made the right choice of sail. One thing for certain, I've left behind life on land. I've stopped thinking of the office and all the worries you may have ashore. I'm not missing that.  Now I have to set myself a pace.  Since the start I haven't spent much time at the helm and I'm missing that.  At the moment, I'm spending too much time dealing with video equipment adjustments and not enough on the weather. The wind got up again recently.  I've just gone through a few squalls. Got to go, as the wind is back again.» Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) talking to his shore team.

 

"By the time I made it to the deep south I wanted to be within 100 miles of the leader.  I've already used up half of that and so I think it's time to get a move on.  It's a bit tricky at the moment, as the wind is still variable and I'm not completely used  to my sail plan. I'm afraid of broaching, but I must say my latest pilots are working miracles, immediately taking into account the slightest change in direction on the crest of a wave."

 

Sam Davies, Roxy: "Here is a nice picture of my lucky red socks "breathing" some fresh air under the full moon, after having been subjected to 48 hours non-stop inside ‘Le Chameau’ boots in the stormy weather!

Yes - I admit that I did not remove my boots or oilskins for 48 hours. It was too full-on to take the risk as I needed to be ready to go on deck at any moment.

So, yesterday I took advantage of the calmer, stable conditions to change socks, wash a bit, brush my hair... it was a treat! I also opened some good luck cards that people had put on board. It’s always good to boost your moral. For now, the red socks are banished to the cockpit until it rains enough for me to wash them. Seeing that I only have three pairs of red socks, I need to take care of them as I am sure I will need some luck again soon.

Yesterday evening I crossed tacks with Dee Caffari again, pretty close. We had a chat on the VHF and she told me that she has found photos hidden by her team around her boat; the Aviva boys obviously have "calendar" talent. Dee explained that the photos of them were taken nude, with strategically placed objects to hide certain areas of their bodies.

She was laughing so much, and we were both a bit sad that it wasn't daylight otherwise she would have tried to show them to me! Anyway, she promised me that she would show me after the race.

Last night I gybed to head south, and today’s strategy is to try to position myself to pass Madeira without suffering from wind-shadow.