"It was a tough day today.  In fact, it's been tough since yesterday!
Yesterday there were choices to make in terms of the trajectory based on the weather models, which didn't agree with each other, and depending on the islands and positions of our fellow competitors.  My aim was to sail as quickly as possible, to make it through a bolt hole to the north of the islands.  I thought I'd found a good ploy...and then, in the ranking an hour later and in the next lot of weather charts, I saw that my friends out to the west were better off.
Then, there was an urgent repair job to do down in the bilges at 40°C, so this evening Beyou is furious and sweaty.  Life isn't that easy around here. Lots of tacks to get back in the right place, looking after the speed and then the wretched Doldrums don't want to tell us what they are up to either."  Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore)

 

"It's clear that the Doldrums can sometimes widen the gap, but the fleet will be grouped together, so I don't think it is likely that we'll see any major upsets.  The positions will simply be squashed up. The first one in will be the first one out, as there's very little difference in longitude. In terms of latitude however, Jean is 200 miles to the east, way over yonder.  The others are 70 or 80 miles away. All of the routes will tend to converge." Vincent Riou (PRB) on today's radio session.

 

"The high pressure that has captured me has my full attention. A bit of bad luck on my part had me sitting becalmed yesterday and last night for long periods. In my anxiousness to get around Cape Finisterre, I think I cut the corner just a bit too tight as the wind hole there will be one to be remembered. I've always said that light air and no wind is much more stressful than too much wind. As I jibed south this morning, the wind is slowly building from 4 knots and the weather files show it gradually building to 15 knots from the North East.  It's a long race and I will be able to catch up at certain points for sure. I will certainly try hard knowing that all the supporters back in Canada are watching. "

"It's getting warmer as I head south, it's 26 C inside the cabin  today so almost time to take off a mid layer but it's much cooler on deck, especially in the shade. It won't be long before I'll be into shorts.  I had a visit from a large pod of dolphins just before sunset yesterday. There must have been 50 or more, all playing around the boat. They always cheer me up as they look like they are having so much fun. More tomorrow. "

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss Spirit of Canada)


 

"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)