"Finally, what we have been looking forward to for a week has finally happened. A lot of things have come together: the wind has shifter, so the route changes, so the sails change.  The temperature falls, the number of layers increases.  The fingers are numb.  Let's just hope the brain doesn't go the same way...We were heading south, but now we can turn to the east.  Remember Dee, it's left this time!"

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) by e-mail. 

 

Dominique Wavre (Temenos) is in 12th place 185 miles from the leader.  Like his rivals, he is busy studying the weather.
"Right now I have a really favourable breeze and I’m making 14 knots of boat speed in a fairly variable, moderate wind. There are some clouds still knocking about in this area, which are creating small unsettled patches. There is a uniformly grey sky forming a lid over the high pressure and in fact there are some unmistakable signs of this with the barometer reading 1031. The wind I have at the moment is only temporary. It will become increasingly erratic and we’ll have to mirror the shifts with the sheet trimming. The zone of high pressure is shifting eastwards and nobody is likely to come to a standstill for a long period of time. The frontrunners should be slowed a little more than us, but things aren’t likely to come to a complete halt. With my slight W’ly separation I hope I’m not going to lose too much time. It will all depend on how the zone of high pressure moves, so naturally there is a slightly random aspect to proceedings."  

Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80) in fourth place this afternoon, 7.8 miles from the leader.
"It was a lively night with the wind climbing as far as 28-30 knots… We went through the entire sail wardrobe! The seas on the nose had the biggest impact though. The wind is tending to ease but it’s still very shifty.  I’m naturally looking a little at what my friends are doing in the east but I’ve noticed too that Michel Desjoyeaux has decided to skirt right round the outside out to the west. For those to the east, it’s coherent that with their slight deficit, they’re trying to cut the corner. Sébastien and I got here too early to do that.  It’s soon going to be time to turn left. I’m looking forward to it… it’s a real motivation to tell yourself that at the end of the weekend we’ll finally be sailing downwind, under gennaker, and no longer have to sail close-hauled suffering this uncomfortable ride.”

 

The International Jury imposed a time penalty of half an hour on Great American 3 for passing a buoy on the wrong side shortly after the start of the race in Les Sables d'Olonne.   Rich Wilson carried out this penalty early this afternoon, as laid down in the Race Instructions:
"The penalised boat shall call the Race Management to agree upon a waypoint and a time where the penalty will be taken. When the boat passes the agreed waypoint in question, the skipper shall call the Race Management to confirm his/her exact position so that the penalty time can be recorded. When the penalty time has elapsed and this has been confirmed by the Race Management,the boat shall pass the same waypoint once again before continuing the race."

Raphaël Dinelli is determined to sail around the world cleanly using solar panels and a wind turbine for his source of energy.  His boat is now up and running after he had to prepare her during the race.  In his latest video he shows us his wind turbine working in its vertical position.  To see this, just click on video.

Sam Davies (Roxy) is in 13th place, 194 miles from the leader. 

"Yesterday I managed to get some rest and recharge my batteries. The upwind conditions continue but were pretty stable allowing me to chill out, just with the occasional trim, or ease, of sheets to be done from time to time. And at the end of the day I was treated to a  beautiful sunset which I will share with you!

Yet again, today dawns to show a bumpy and confused sea, and now the wind is a lot less stable - between 18 and 26 knots. Roxy isn't really happy and I have been struggling to find the right configuration for her. It is a bit like being on some kind of fairground ride that is totally unpredictable. Just when I think I have got used to the motion, we find another "hole" in the sea, and go crashing into it and that trips Roxy up and quite often takes me by surprise too! This is maybe a sign that we are nearing the high pressure and conditions are soon to change....Making tea this morning is going to be a high-tariff manoeuvre!"