Armel Le Cléac'h (BritAir) on today's radio sesson:  "We're now in a world that is leaning over. I've set up my bunk to sleep with a heel of 20°. I'm pleased to have found the southern trade winds. There are still some heavy clouds, but we can feel that we're getting close to the Equator. We should be crossing tonight. I've put the champagne on ice… or should I say out in the heat?"

However, for Vincent Riou (PRB), the Equator crossing will be a bit quieter, "Nothing special planned for  when I cross the Equator.  The days of drinking alone are behind me, because it's not much fun.  I'll reserve the drinks for when I'm in good company. "

 

Dee Caffari (Aviva) is currently approaching the Doldrums in 15th place, 262 miles from the leader. "It is boiling. The sea temperature is 29 degrees and the air temperature is mid thirties both during the night and day. Doing anything in the black carbon boat is like a sweaty oven. Even a bucket of water over your head is quite warm at the moment but it is never too warm. I would much rather be too hot than too cold and it won’t be long before it gets too cold so I’m not complaining. There’s no sitting around getting a sun tan that’s for sure. It’s quite hard to eat because it’s so hot…you don’t really want to eat a meal because of the heat. The only meal I eat at the same time I would at home is breakfast. The rest of the time I eat when I’m hungry…..but when I’m not hungry I have to keep an eye on my watch. I have no idea if I’m losing weight – I will find out when I get back.  So there’s not a lot happening on this boat. Just sailing, sleeping and eating. It’s quite nice at the moment.”

 

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada)is currently sailing south-west of the Canaries in 25th place 1441 miles from the leader.  Here is his daily message:

"The electrical problems have my attention and we are still trying to rectify the problems. It seems that with every Vendee Globe one or more of the fleet is destined to go around with minimal power. It's ironic that I set the boat up to use as little power as possible utilizing the wind and a wind turbine.  Now with the wind turbine not working, we must preserve the fuel that we have on board. To help the battery/power situation, I am hand steering about three hours a day to supplement the power supply. Otherwise, every thing is fine on board and it is now hot inside the cabin. The trade winds are being a little elusive today and I have only 14 knots of wind. The fresh food is slowly disappearing and now onto the freeze dried, which I don't mind.   
More soon
Derek"

 

In his daily message this morning, Steve White (Toe in the Water) reports a change in his appearance:
 
"I did give myself a haircut and then washed it! I felt much better to not be like a mop, and a lot cooler too! I remembered each of my kids has cut their hair at one time or another as all kids do, and I wasn't quite sure that I shouldn't be telling myself off for doing it too! It doesn't look that bad though I don't think; no patches of scalp showing through that I can feel (I can't see anything, my mirror is pretty poor!) Still, who cares, nobody has to look at it, and it's got a while to grow back!"

"The boat is going along quite nicely, and the jobs list is coming getting smaller too. I have to go up the rig tomorrow, I need to make sure everything is OK before we go into the south. With everything being new up there it is possible that there could be all sorts of problems, mainly where things rub together and chafe through, but we shall see tomorrow..... I hate going up the rig at sea, you have to wear loads of clothes to stop you bashing yourself to bits!"
 

 

Remember you can view the day's highlights by simply clicking on the daily review video in the video section in the media feature.  The main subject yesterday was the Doldrums...

 

Pete Goss finished in fifth place in the 1996 Vendée Globe.  At the moment he is sailing a hundred miles or so to the south-west of the leaders in the Vendée Globe, but this time on a very different type of boat, a reconstruction of a nineteenth-Century lugger. On his way to Cape Town after setting out from Cornwall a month ago, he too is just leaving the Doldrums. Here is what he had to say about his experience this week:

"This is my fifth time through the Doldrums and I can safely say that it has been the worst by far and we have as yet to clear them. After a day of squalls and heavy rain the sky allowed a peep of blue to show through the oppressive grey that we have been suffering this last week. The night saw a few showers but this was more than made up for by a bright moon and star studded sky. Our world, closed down under a carpet of grey was stretching itself and expanding into a gloriously vivid and vibrant expanse. Even the flying fish have started to fly again. The sea, in sympathy with this new order, has calmed a bit and has been joined by a large swell from the south east as the South Atlantic high starts to show its influence. Although the Doldrums have been bad they have not been as frustrating as in the past because we are not racing. There is nothing worse than being becalmed in the knowledge that the competition, no more than thirty miles away could be creaming away at ten knots. This time I have actually been able to enjoy the intensity and diversity that it has to offer if you take the time to stop and look."