A reminder that each day you can catch up on the latest news from the Vendée Globe by watching the short daily summary online.  Yesterday, the leading boats were passing through or preparing their way through the first Ice Gate.  To view the video, just click here and select daily report.

 

This morning at 0530 GMT/UTC, Gonzalo Terceño, the Pakea Bizkaia project manager, informed the Race Directors that Unai Bazurko had a rudder problem.  After hearing a loud noise, the Basque sailor saw that his starboard rudder cassette is damaged

The damage has forced him to change to a NE’ly course, towards the lighter winds of the St. Helena high pressure system, seeking relief from the strong winds. He will then be in a better position to evaluate the extent of the damage and consider the possibilities of carrying out repairs by himself.

This morning at 7h30 GMT/UTC, he was sailing at 37°28 south and 17°16 west. He was on a bearing of 73° and proceeding under reduced sail averaging 2.6 knots. Pakea Bizkaia is currently right in the middle of the South Atlantic, more or less halfway between the coast of South America and Africa, 1730 miles from Cape Town.

"I don't like being messed around with like that.  Let me explain. Yesterday was a nice day with sunshine, calm seas, the waves from behind, but not too much wind, 15-20 knots. The forecast said the wind would gradually strengthen, as the low moved in.  So when the wind arrived, we'd deal with it by lowering some sail.  Yesterday evening under spinnaker, the wind strengthened to above 20 knots.  I'm watching.  Above 24 knots.  I get ready to take down some sail.  A first gust at 27 knots.  It's already dark.  The boat is surfing at 23-24 knots.  That's done.  With a third of the moon, we can see what's going on. Clouds scudding along.  Another gust at 29 knots.  Get ready for a blow.  Final manoeuvres.  A 31-knot gust.  Usually I take down the spinnaker to be on the safe side at 25 knots at night.  So it's time to do something.  I drop the spinnaker sock.  28 metres of rope to deal with. In 30 knots.  Spinnaker down.  Stowed.  Up with the solent.  Wind 30 knots.  I tell myself I've done the right thing. I'm going back to bed. A bowl of Chinese noodles.  Wake up an hour or so later. Look at the dials.  Only 20 knots.  We're pitifully slow.  Up with the gennaker.  More quickly than I remember doing before.  The sun comes up.  In an hour it will be above thirty again. A damned awful night.  Too much caution and you lose confidence."
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia), in his daily message, written as he was 18 miles from the first Ice Gate

 

"Bahrain Team Pindar is the pied piper of the avian world today and I must have a hundred sea birds spiralling around the boat as I head eastwards, 470 miles from the ice gate, and 1300 miles from Cape Town. Perhaps they are hoping that my wake will stir up some food for them, or perhaps it's just a change of scenery from waves, waves and more waves.  There are no albatross amongst them but four very large black petrels and lots of smaller grey and white birds." 

Brian Thompson (Pindar) in his evening message

 

Today, it is the Canadian, Derek Hatfield, who has covered the greatest distance towards the finish.  Between 20h yesterday evening and this evening, he is credited with 354 miles.  Derek is now in 22nd place, 1488 miles from the leader.

 

In his latest video, Jonny Malbon (Artemis) explains the damage to his daggerboard.  A chance too to see the new-look Jonny with his beard.  Just click here to view the clip.