"0330 Iceberg spotted in approx position -48.06.58S 34.30.95E Passed within 4 miles, over 400m long, 60-80m high. A long windy night once again – much more than the models suggested. Had a tough day yesterday, with damage to the traveller system getting worse.  Had to drop the main to gybe, to prevent any further damage, and then it was impossible to rehoist through the lazyjacks in 40-45 knots of wind.  Managed to twist my ankle really badly as well, ironically on the very things in the cockpit that are meant to stop you falling over!  Got the main back up finally just before dark. Lots of squalls this morning with 40 knots in them and raining ice. Came through one, and saw a target on the radar – as I came out of the squall there she was, a very big iceberg. Well over 400m long I would say.  Passed to leeward of it by 4 miles, but still, makes you wonder about sailing so fast through the night! Water temp at 7, and very cold on board.  Breeze should ease a little today before the big blow starts late tonight as the front goes through. 45 knots forecast, so would expect over 50 in the gusts.  Not looking forward to that very much. Anyway, time for a cup of tea!"
Jonny Malbon (Artemis) in an e-mail during the night

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia), currently in third place, 31.6 miles from the leader, covered the greatest distance towards the finish over the past 24 hours.  Between 20 h yesterday evening and this evening, he covered 395.1 miles .

 

"Air and sea temperature falling (to around 5°C).  The sea is very confused and tiring, tossing me all over the place.  the wind is around thirty knots (which is about the average around here). Some waves ars so big that the boat goes from 10 to 22 knots in a few seconds. Not easy to see to all that! This morning I broached for the first time.  A wave literally swept over the stern of the boat and we swerved off course. I was under gennaker with one reef and it wasn't easy to get back on track!  Besides, I'd only just woken up and wasn't dressed to go outside. You can imagine the scene.  On top of that, we have a huge low arriving in the coming days and you can see that the Indian Ocean is living up to its reputation!"

Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Groupe Maisonneuve)

From the Gitana Team this evening:

24 hours after Gitana Eighty dismasted in the Indian Ocean, operations to recuperate the monohull equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild are taking shape. At the same time as these logistical aspects which are mobilising the members of Gitana Team, Loïck Peyron has been organising his life aboard. Since yesterday evening, he has been sailing under jury rig; a spar which he managed to erect after some long and exhausting hours of work on deck.
 
From Gitana Team’s office, based in Saint Philibert in the Morbihan, the shore crew have been in regular contact so as to offer their skipper the maximum amount of possibilities. This afternoon, after several exchanges with Loïck Peyron, there are still several valid options and they have yet to come to a final decision.

To get to Australia, some 2,700 miles away, under jury rig, remains a possibility as the winds naturally propel Gitana Eighty in this direction. However this crossing of the Indian Ocean under reduced sail would result in a long, laborious route for the sailor from La Baule. Another possibility is to charter a ship to make for South Africa, Madagascar or Reunion. Among these towing possibilities in the open ocean, one in particular requires an explanation. In fact, there is one boat currently on zone close to Gitana Eighty, which is the Marion Dufresne. A 120 metre vessel, this ship is based in Reunion and was launched in 1995, and usually serves two main roles. It carries out oceanographic research for the IPEV (French Polar Institute Paul Emile Victor) as well as some logistical and refuelling missions for French Austral Territories in the south of the Indian Ocean. Passing between the islands of Crozet and Kerguelen this Thursday, the Marion Dufresne may be able to meet up with Loïck Peyron and Gitana Eighty on zone."
 
Faced with these various options, the skipper and his team are giving themselves and extra night to consider the matter: “Under sail, I would take as much time to make South Africa as I would Australia. However, various towing options have been studied and may shed new light on things. Right now I’m going to set a course to the NNE for the next few hours so as to as to enable me to choose between hanging a left or a right. We will have all the necessary elements to make a decision tomorrow” explained Loïck Peyron this afternoon.

GITANA TEAM PRESS
 

Well, today is a day of experiments and learning on board Roxy.

I have been frustrated by the fact that Bernard and Brian are going faster than me and I am trying to do something about it! I have the NEED FOR SPEED!

It is too windy for the big gennaker, but last night I decided to try out the Code 0, which is a smaller gennaker that flies from the masthead. So, this morning, I got to work and set everything up, which is not easy in 25 knots of wind and big surfs, as sometimes the bow is completely submerged in very cold water!

Now we are sailing with the Code 0 instead of the Solent, but the trouble is, I'm not sure we're going any faster; if anything Roxy is feeling a little less happy. The infuriating thing is that every sail change costs miles and quite a bit of energy! So, after writing this, I will be back on deck, reverting back to our original configuration.

However, it wasn’t all for nothing, as I have learnt something more about my little pink boat and how I should sail her, and in a bit of a masochistic way, it’s quite fun manoeuvring out on deck in the cold, wilderness down here. Apart from anything else the manoeuvre keeps me warm and I get to appreciate my surroundings a little bit more.

Once finished playing with the boat to find the right configuration, I will be treating myself to a nice lunch and a big hot chocolate to warm myself back up!

And a last little thought from me about Loick - "The Jedi Maister" as Dee calls him - I was gutted to hear about his dismasting. It is incredibly sad to loose one of the race's heroes from the rankings and yet another reminder of just how vulnerable we all are out here.

S x

Mike Golding, GBR, ECOVER 3, said recently: 

"All of us are playing the knife edge as to what we can physically cope with and what the boat can physically cope with. The reality is, if we push on too hard there's a risk of breakage and we certainly don't want to be turning left too soon."

"I couldn't wish for a better place than where I am right now. The race is not about leading at this moment but it's about being in touch and I couldn't be more in touch than I am right now.. So very clearly the race is up for grabs by any one of the top 10 boats."

"I think a lot of us out here are, without communicating it to each other, are realising that there's little to be gained by surging forward. Our job really is to keep in contact and if opportunities arise obviously take them. More important than that, however, is to keep the boat together, get yourself to Cape Horn and then enjoy one hellava race up the Atlantic."