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December 09. 2008 at 20:05Greatest distance over 24 hours

Today, Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) once again clocked up the greatest distance in the fleet over 24 hours. Currently in 14th place, 560 miles from the leader, between yesterday evening and the latest rankings issued at 20h, he covered 408.9 miles towards the finish.

December 09. 2008 at 19:52High speeds for Dominique

This morning Dominique Wavre (Temenos) announced that the wind had returned. It was to strengthen and become steady during the afternoon, allowing him to achieve the best speeds in the fleet late this afternoon (averaging 18.1 knots over 4 hours), as he explained to his shore team: "It’s pretty sporty. I’m getting shaken about every which way. It’s good to see the speedo climbing; it’s felt like a kind of revenge over the past 24 hours. I’m going to try to rest a little because in the cold conditions, you have to be careful that you don’t try too hard. I’m at the chart table at the moment with the duvet rolled around me and the pilot remote in my hand. The sun has begun to set so I’ll make the most of it to top up on calories again. I had a little ray of sunshine between two squalls during the afternoon. That only lasted quarter of an hour though, so there was only just enough time to get out the camera before the greyness took the upper hand again. The wind changes according to the passage of squalls. I had up to 28 knots and the rest of the time it varied between 20 and 25 knots. I am focussed on the trimming and I regularly go up top to ease or harden the sheets an umpteenth time."

December 09. 2008 at 18:19Antarctic prions

"Heading now on an easterly course towards Marion and Prince Edward Island, but later tonight the wind will start to shift into the west and I will start to arc more SE before gybing tomorrow towards the Kerguelen Islands. I am happy to be slightly north of where the routing software is guiding me, to give me room to manoeuvre round a forecast low in 6 days, and to stay in 25-30 knot winds rather than 30-35. It seems faster in those conditions, although the weather routing always takes you south here and into the strongest possible winds – which is often slower due to the sea state, as the software doesn't have to go on deck! Been followed by lots of tern sized birds for the last few days, and I got my Antarctic wildlife book out today. They are called Prions, and they are a grey colour with V shaped markings on the their wings. They seem to be my most loyal visitors at present. There are numerous types of Prions and even experts can have trouble telling them apart so, Prions will have to do.."

Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) in his daily message

December 09. 2008 at 17:55Loïck goes climbing

Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80) had been putting off climbing his mast to sort out a masthead lashing problem for several days, but explained to his shore team today that he has now managed to do that thanks to some calmer weather. "I canted Gitana Eighty over slightly so as to be more stable, and I hoisted myself up using the strength in my arms and a system of blocks on the halyards. These techniques come from mountaineers. I tried to wear as little clothing as possible, not solely to be light but also so as not to get too hot. After all it’s a fairly physical, tiring operation. However, I’m really delighted to have been able to make the most of this little calm spell to do it. It’s going to be essential for the next stage!”

December 09. 2008 at 16:16Rich going nowhere fast

"None of the files showed the flat calm this morning for a whole bunch of hours. Found myself at 1.7 knots desperately trying to go S for more wind, so headed SW, bizarre, but loss is really in going nowhere at all, not going nowhere in the wrong direction. Wasn't far enough to the east in the strong wind train of the last days to get to the corner where it wrapped around the high and gave the mid-pack group a chance to gybe south, so when I got a shift myself, went south east, but not enough, and lost a lot. In calm, switched pilot to fixed boat speed, then when the breeze finally came back, and with full main and reacher we were surging to 17/18 knots, pilot was wildly all over the place, why? Racking brain for solution. Finally, the little molecule of a solution came into my tired brain (only 45 min sleep in last 20 hrs) - put it back on boat speed! Did, and what a difference it makes when the pilot is not trying to steer at 18 knots thinking its only going 4 knots, and when it can actually make a True Wind Angle calculation. Need a blackboard in the cockpit to write notes to myself."
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message

December 09. 2008 at 15:05Speed in the southern seas

In the latest video clips sent back from the southern seas , we get a good view of the fast conditions that Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80) and Dominique Wavre (Temenos) have been experiencing. As Loïck says "The wind is starting to blow!" To see the southern surf for yourself, just click here.

December 09. 2008 at 14:39Typical Southern Ocean for Derek

"I am slowly making my way south, away from the high pressure system and and into better winds. It's been a bit frustrating but I am making good headway now towards the southern highway that heads East. The conditions today are typcial southern ocean, overcast and grey but suprisingly flat seas. There is no sign yet of the large swells that we sometimes get down here. I've done a thorough check of the boat and all seems ok. I took all the small amounts of water from the different compartments and the boat is dry inside, a real bonus for sure. It's getting colder now and clothing does not dry at all once it's wet. It probably won't dry now until after Cape Horn."
Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) in his daily message

December 09. 2008 at 13:58Dee past the Ice Gate

"I had a very busy night pushing quite hard with gusty conditions of up to 33knots of wind. It resulted in quite a few sail changes and some very cold hands. I am now chasing east as fast as possible to stay out of the clutches of the lighter winds following behind. It has been a much more south-westerly breeze seeing us near reaching which has been noisy and wet. I think I prefer the surfing, which is a less violent movement. I was so busy with the sail changes and lack of sleep that all I wanted to do this morning was sleep and warm up as I was really cold and I clear forgot about the ice gate and letting the race office know. So after a quick photograph and email, I was able to catch a few zzzz's and focus on the next goal, which is…..another ice gate. There is one to the south to keep us north of Heard Island and then one just before Australia. The ice reported has been quite far north and to be honest I saw more than enough of the stuff on the Aviva Challenge to last a lifetime so I have no desire to push my luck south."
Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message

December 09. 2008 at 10:36Sam cuddling up in her sleeping bag

"Yes, it's getting cold down here now! So much so that I couldn't work out if the drizzly rain last night was frozen or not! I had a slightly annoying night - just not managing to find the right sails or angle to the waves, so struggling to go fast. The night started under gennaker, with a building breeze. I was soon past my wind limit for the big guy, and the waves were such that Roxy would take off, accelerate and risk face-planting the next wave - a risk I couldn't take as a faceplant in 30 kt with the big gennaker up puts a lot of load on the top of my mast. So, I went to roll. When nearly rolled, I paused to check the roll with a torch. Unlucky for me, I must have paused when the thin bit of furler line was on the drum, there was a gust, and the whole thing unfurled itself! I'm starting to wonder really if my gennaker does have a warped sense of humor! The rest of the night seems to have gone very quickly, as I took reefs, shook out reefs, changed headsails... all in search of the right sail combination. Pretty frustrating really, as I never was totally happy with my choice. At least with all those manoeuvres I wasn't cold! I have been adapting, and yesterday I broke out two of my secret weapons: my Roxy Moon Boots and my super thick sleeping bag. I slept so well and even managed to dream a bit! The boots are a success too - warm feet all the time - and I am almost sure that soon I will even be sleeping in them (yes, inside my sleeping bag!)"
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message.

December 09. 2008 at 09:42Dejeanty discovers the south

"It's the most astonishing thing that has happened to me in the race! After 23 days of racing (the longest I have ever raced) I have entered the south, which is smiling and sunny. Blue skies and calm seas, but the dark colours suggest a different mood! A few sea animals and lots of birds. The sun is shining enough to offer me autonomy using the solar panels and I haven't started the engine for two days. Yesterday was a day for cleaning up and repairs. This is the first time I have been anywhere with such clear skies, so many nuances of colour and with an impressive range of animals presided over by a magnificent albatross ... "
Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Maisonneuve) in his daily message