It was noticed that Fondation Ocean Vital had been making slow headway since yesterday evening and her course was rather erratic.  Contacted by telephone, Raphael Dinelli confirmed that as he was becalmed, he preferred to lower his sails, which were flapping around. In such circumstances the wear and tear on the sails and equipment can be significant, and  he has only just begun his round the world voyage, which is likely to last at least 80 days.  Taking advantage of the sunshine, Raphaël was able to check his batteries were charging correctly (using chiefly his solar panels) and that the results match the expectations of the designers.

 

"Talking on the link-up for the radio session is a complicated task. I wouldn't go as far as Loïck and say that it was downright rude to disturb me on my boat, but it's just that sometimes it's rather difficult to find the words to explain what is going on aboard the boat, what is happening in the race and how I feel. Anyway, just now, I was asked what I thought about the pace of the race after one week at sea.  I was incapable of uttering the slightest sensible answer.  I just repeated the same thing over and over: a miserable performance.  It's not going to stop me from getting any sleep, but it's just that I feel that I didn't quite manage to convey my thoughts to you, which really annoys me."

Some thoughts about Kito de Pavant:
"I can remember hugging him on the day of the start and telling him to take care...
I still haven't called him, because I don't have the courage and I'm afraid that it will bring the bad memories flooding back.  It's a good example of the commitment you find in this race.  For a moment your reason returns and you ease off.  I feel so sad for the friends, who are back on dry land and there's my natural reserve too.  So, maybe Kito will read these words ...and Yannick, who has given his all to this crazy chase.  I know they will bounce back, as they've got the inner strength it takes.  Then, there's Marco! Usain Bolt can win the 100m Olympic sprint with his laces undone, but Thiercelin cannot win the Vendée Globe without a mast... Marc is a great bloke."

Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore)

 

An excerpt from the Steve White Blog today, all well on board Toe in the Water. Steve took time to inspect the front watertight compartments in the bow sections of the boat, and found them......watertight, a pleasing result since he had removed many deck fittings during their hasty refit in Les Sables d'Olonne

" I had to take the spinnaker down for a while to do some work on the end of the bowsprit, we wheren't moving very much anyway, so I figured then was as good a time as any. We had a new arrangement for the bit of string that holds the spinnakers out at the end of the bowsprit using a stainless steel ring for the rope to pass through rather than a nice block, and the ring was hacking it's way through my nice new peice of string! I got into the bosun's chair, put on a headtorch and hauled myself out to the end of the bowsprit and started sorting things out. It was flat calm by this point, and I was engrossed in what I as doing, with my backside two feet above the water so you can imagine my surprise when a dolphin surphaced to breathe right underneath me - I could have touched him, and I was close enough to get a good blast of  his breath! I nearly jumped out of my skin I can tell you. He was about five or six feet long I suppose, although he seemed about thirty when I saw him first! He wasn't at all afraid, just curious. Wherever you sail, the groups of dolphins seem to have different characters, sometimes they stay and play, sometimes they don't, sometimes they just cross your path and don't stop at all like they're really on a mission, but these ones are still here some hours later."
 

"I've washed my hair.  I'm all clean with fresh clothes on. The only problem in this fashionable get up is my shoes!  It's great to have grabbed some sleep.  Today I took advantage of some calm to wash my hair and take a real shower with a bucket of seawater.  Life begins again today and I think tonight I'll sleep well." Sam Davies (Roxy)

 

"The trade winds, which have been dying away took their last breath early in the night.  A huge cloud and then no more wind.  One last surge on a little wave and Temenos comes to a standstill.  4 hours parked up here, then the sky clears, not a single cloud, and the moon and stars appear and we're on our way again albeit very slowly, like someone getting over a touch of the trade winds...
It's very light, but at least in the right direction.  Let's just hope it lasts!"

Dominique Wavre on Temenos2.

"Perfect sailing conditions, but a few minor problems, which give you things to do even on the best of days. Since yesterday I've been busy trying to see what is wrong with the water maker.  There doesn't appear to be any signs of damage, yet it's only producing around 10% of its theoretical capability. I hope to find the solution by tomorrow.  Will let you know.  Up until now have spent about seven hours with the tools out trying to understand what's wrong."  
Norbert on Nauticsport-Kapsch