Everyone will remember how in 2004, the skipper of VM Matériaux charmed us with stories about his little family.  There was his automatic pilot, Popaul and his mainsail, "Big Denise." The family has just grown with the arrival this year of Eleanor, the wind generator.
 

There were several pleasant surprises for Dee Caffari (Aviva) yesterday that she enjoyed talking about with Sam Davies (Roxy) during their little chat.  She explains today what she found so amusing...

"I couldn't stop laughing. The boys had left photos of themselves naked in areas of the boat that they had been working on so when I was in the aft department bailing out some water and looking at the steering gear, I turned round and there was Craig (Thompson) on the transom with strategically placed pots of resin. There was one of Martin (Piquet) coiling a line in the sail locker and one of Joff further forward. I haven't found Rob (Sleep) yet but that is something to look forward to. I have seen a side to all the boys that I'd not seen before. They are certainly not shy."

More seriously, looking at what has been happening in the race, Dee expressed her feelings about her own situation and about Alex Thomson's retiral.

"It didn't surprise me that Brian Thompson overtook me yesterday. The fact that I'm in with this pack at all is awesome. It makes me smile every time I see the positions come in - just being in the same bit of the chart as them is really cool."

"To have gone through everything they did to get to the start line and having worked so hard, it would have been heartbreaking for Alex to go back in. I really feel for them all. He now has to wait another four years - it's really sad. But there is so much more to him than a pile of carbon fibre. He now has another four years to do more and everyone should be very worried about Alex for the Vendée in 2012."

 

From Unai Basurko, Pakea Bizkaia " How is everything?  I have begun to enjoy sailing with a good wind, full moon and the boat in a perfect state.  I hope that all the problems that people have had after the front that we have been through can be solved.  I have spoken today to the Spanish press and there is a lot of excitement about the Vendee Globe. A big hug from A big hug from Pakea Bizkaia, enroute to the Canary Islands."

"Gliding along under moonlit skies. Need to watch out for squalls, which keep reminding us that this is no holiday cruise. After an afternoon with the speedo going crazy, I'm back in sight of Vincent the Terrible. Everything was going well and I was in my bunk when a 30-knot squall appeared and woke me from my nap.  Half an hour later, and with a few drops of rain on the fleece, as it wasn't worth putting on the wet weather gear, old Riou called me up:  "So "Memel", you were sleeping too when the squall arrived?" That's what it's been like during the night. In the end it was all good practice for the Doldrums.  But that's another story...Speak to you soon."
Armel Le Cléac'h on BritAir

"Hi there,
Early in the night, the wind got up offering fine surfing conditions with speeds up to 24 knots.  Beautiful moonlit night with great clouds.  All's well, but I didn't get any sleep.  Not to worry.  I'll take a nap after the Canaries."
Arnaud Boissières on Akéna Vérandas

 

Message received from Foncia during the night:
"Hi to everyone ashore,
It's not taking off that quickly.  I woke upwith a nasty nightmare, which isn't easy to explain, but that's the mystery of sleep: how do we come up with all these ideas, which could be the basis of a good police story? The nightmare was there in my head and although my night vision was limited by the overcast skies, I wasn't seeing the same wind speed on the dials as a few minutes before.    Only one action: It had to be done . A gybe.  let's get out of this high, before we get sucked right in.  Let's go south, as that's where we're supposed to be going."

 

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