"Just as it was getting dark last night I was deciding whether or not to shake a reef out – yes, no, yes, no – “I'll give it five minutes”  this went on for about an hour and then I decided yes shake a reef,” you can always put it back in” I said to myself.  Shook the ref out, boat sped was up pilot was coping, happy days. I went down below and hung my oilskin jacket up to dry.  The boat started to load up and take off on the occasional wave, and obviously because I had shaken a reef, the wind had increased.  So, up she went onto one particularly large wave – the rumbling noise of the water on the hull increased as we picked up speed – 18, 19,20,21.  at this point the boat was very arced up and the pilot seemed to be playing “how fast  can we go”.  The answer was very fast, but I didn’t have time to look – I launched myself through the hatch to get to the wheel, as torrents of cold water hosed the boat down.  Disengage pilot, bear away, that was the plan, but too late.  We basically broached to weather – I managed to bear away hard, and the acceleration was immense – water everywhere, mainly down my oilskin trousers and into my boots.  Bore away so hard with such pace (I was steering kneeling down on the cockpit floor) that we crashed gybed – wheel the other way, boom comes back, jibtop comes back, I am soaked, cockpit full of water – nice job.  A couple more firsts for both the boat and me!! I then laughed at myself as I put the reef back in taking us to the same place that we were about an hour ago – only I was exhausted and now totally wet through.  Brilliant, must try that again!!"

 

Jonny Malbon (Artemis) on his daily message.

"As for the routine activities on Foncia, we have several on offer an a few workshops: bailing out the bilges, foot massage, stock-taking, as I'm a bit of a naughty boy and don't finish my meals leaving what I don't like.  Then, for those, who like exercise there's plenty of stacking to do. Always a way to do better, a typical attitude for the friends of Michel Doré (Mike Golding - -editor).  This tack is only going to last two and a half days. While you're doing that, I'll be taking a nap.  It's tiring when there's nothing to do, so I'll go and rest..."
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his daily message during the night

 

Over the past 24 hours, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) covered the greatest distance towards the finish.  From 20h yesterday evening until this evening, he covered 397 miles.  Currently in 9th place, he is now only 87.4 miles from the leader.

 

"At 1510 UTC today, at 40 deg 20'min S and 1 deg 05 min E, GA3 passed north of a point of the first ice gate. We are with gray overcast skies, periodic rain, 25-30 knots of wind, and making 12 knots with solent and 2 reefs in the main. The pilot is doing a good job. The barometer is rising slightly as the very steady weather pattern of the last several days, being sandwiched between a moving low to the south, and the South Atlantic high to the north, is changing finally. We are en route for the second ice gate4-5 days down the track.  The boat surges from time to time into the 20 knot range, like on a rail, she stands up straight and drives ahead, the faster boat speed makes a faster wind speed which makes a faster boat speed which makes a faster wind speed which makes a ... you get the picture. It cycles up until something throws it off, a wave, a flaw in the wind... but from the chart table, especially in the dark, it is very, very tense... the loads go up as the speed goes up, and you just hope that everything comes out OK at the end of the surge."
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message

 

Among the videos received from the skippers today, we can see Sam Davies (Roxy) and Rich Wilson (Great American III).  The American skipper shows us around down below and you can hear the continual noise the skippers have to put up with. To watch these videos, just click  here.

"Last night was fast and furious again with a top speed of 25.3 knots, a best for this trip and for this boat. I can feel the effects of the high pressure system now and the barometer is starting to rise. It's going to be very close to make it through before the high develops here. I spotted my first albatross for this trip early this morning. They are magnificent birds and seem so at home here in the southern ocean. They soar around, doing a wheeling pattern into the trough of the waves and up high and back down again, only flapping their wings occasionally. I watched one last trip for over five minutes and it never flapped it's wings once, gliding on it's huge wings and relying on the wind between the waves to keep going. I'm wondering if they can do this wheeling and soaring pattern in their sleep. I've read that they will spend months at sea and never touch land."   
Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) in his daily log