"I am now in albatross country - not the really big wandering variety, the ones that are regular visitors to me have a black back, but they are still pretty big. I have always rushed to see them when they go scooting by at a distance. You can see their wings flexing with the weight of their bodies as they make some pretty dramatic but effortless turns to skim the waters surface and then soar up for a look round. Their flexing wings gives me some comfort regarding my flexing mast! When I had my snooze this morning I looked out of the door to see one looking in at me! He was flying behind the boat and having a good look inside, which was really quite something for me.

The whole place is awash with birds, dozens of them at any one time. With the exception of some pigeon-like birds which are small and plump, all of the sea birds here are of the racing snake variety - pointy wings and streamlined bodies. There are none of your fish and chip eating seaside gulls here, they are all serious flying machines! There are some all blacky brown birds with clown's eyes painted on in white that fight and squabble amongst themselves, but there are numerous other types too.

It also seems to be a haven for small squid, and there must be countless millions out there. This morning one was in the cockpit - I don't know how he got there. He was silver grey and about eight inches long. When I touched him he shrank back inside his mantle so only the ends of his tentacles were poking out and he looked very comical! He got sent back over the side. There were some others that had been washed into a rolled up sail at the back of the boat - one was no more, but the other two were OK and got put back over the side. They are obscure but beautiful creatures with their big eyes, but I'm not sure I'd like to meet a giant one though!"

Steve White (Toe in the Water) in his daily message

 

"Today’s conditions will favour me as I should continue to stay in the wind, whilst my friends will still be battling their way through the zone of high pressure. In theory however, I shall be doing the same thing in a few hours time with a considerable reduction in pace on the menu. After that, there may be a reversal of fortune as the wind direction may prove less favourable in my part of the world. Being the leader may be temporary but it’s already a very good thing to have got closer to the thick of the action and be able to tease my friends. The wind peaked at 35 knots and Gitana Eighty recorded a surf of 28 knots whilst I was in my bunk. It was a bit full on… With the wind on our tail, gybing under the cover of darkness in big seas, the scene depicted is never a comfortable one. In fact I broached on several occasions, one of which ripped off my Sat C aerial, which used to be at the rear of the cockpit"
Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80) talking to his shore team today

 

"Had 2 excitements in last 24hrs. Last night, at 0230z, with staysail and 2 reefs, hitting 22 knots (fast for this boat and very fast for this skipper!), decided to go to 3rd reef. Broad reaching, trying to do more quickly than my usual methodical self.  Ended up with a mess up against the mast, spreaders, rigging, eventually got halyard and tack right, but clew reef line #3 was wrapped around wrong side of sail, so needed to go out there. So out I go, back to the cockpit, not quite sorted, out I go again, and don't anybody send that picture to my mother, hanging off the end of the boom, pitch black dark of night, boat still going 18-20 knots in the surfs, and the skipper is out there. It's when you're glad of good autopilots."

"Today, trying to conserve amperes, turned off computer, network, inverter, monitor, between navigation sessions, back to cockpit, and then alarms sounding, pilot alarms, leap to the tiller, but its still steering, but on compass, not wind. What's up? Turn off, hand steer, wait for a calmer patch, leap below, turn off instruments, back to tiller, minute later back to turn on instruments, back to compass pilot. OK, then notice no wind speed. Look aloft. Anemometer still there spinning, and that's a long way up there. Can switch to backup, but can't get past thought that turning off the inverter had something to do with it, too. Coincidental, within 30 seconds, after a while, windspeed reappeared, for about 3 minutes, then off again, then 20 minutes later, on again for 5 minutes, then off, then came on again and has stayed on for 3 hours straight. There is so much electronics going on in such a small space that maybe it was a big software glitch. Let's fervently hope so. Anyway, still on compass pilot, not quite daring to use wind quite yet, but rocketing along nonetheless."

Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message.

 

"The waves were typical of the Indian Ocean.  That means short and steep, with a height sometimes reaching more than 6 metres. In those conditions, the boat nose-dives and takes a few bad hits, but we've come out of the gale unhurt. Yet the nervous tension takes its toll in terms of fatigue, and I feel the need to take some rest, I think I'll sleep well tonight.  The weather is still hard to decipher, and when Yann and myself crossed the first Ice Gate, heading North was definitely not an option. This route opened up after our passage, and the guys behind us logically took it while those further South bumped into the windless zone, which in theory should have moved out of their way!"
Sébastien Josse (BT) talking to his shore team today.

 

"I'm still recovering on stand-by looking after my foot. I've been in pain for two days (after falling over, editor). A knock caused an inflammation of the Achilles tendon and the arch of my foot. It's not easy to stand, especially in the sort of weather we just had. It's quite a swelling. If I don't leave it rest, it will continue to be a problem for a long time.  Now we're sailing slowly through the high.  We should get underway again during the night. I'm making 6-7 knots with about the same strength of wind. I'm heading south to get to the other side of this zone.»
Vincent Riou (PRB), on this morning's radio session.

 

"Another fast and sleepless night as the winds got up to 30+ knots and boat speeds in the low 20's. I still don't have the confidence in the  autopilots to actually go to sleep and leave them on their own. It's like teaching a teenager how to drive, confidence in them is gained after a period of time and experience. I've had a nap this morning to ward off the drowsiness and it's almost time to make a sail change. I'm watching the high pressure off to my left like a hawk as I'm nervous that it will start back my way and I will get caught.  The clean up of the oil spill has not progressed very well as the deck is still awash in water from surfing so much. I hope to have a better picture of the mess later today."
Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) in his daily message