"This morning at around 06h UTC in a very strong gust, my forestay broke. I was able to recover the genoa. The rigging is intact. The weather is very bad.  There's a force 6 NNW'ly  wind, but gusts reaching force 9.  Now I'm surfing at 22 knots just with the mainsail with two reefs."
Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch) in an e-mail this morning

"This is the third time I've been down here  in y oilskins and it's the first time I have seen ice.  It's not that surprising. In 2001, someone came up to me at the Boat Show a few months after the Vendée Globe and said: "I'd love to do like you and sail quickly around Antarctica seeing the ice!" "You can do one or the other" I answered. "If you do both at the same time, it will have a sad ending. " "But you did it, " he insisted.  "No.  Sailing quickly yes, but ice does not figure on the programme."  But that is what happened yesterday.  The first was about twice the length of Foncia, about forty metres, at least from what I saw. This blue is simply sublime and remids me of the colours in glaciers. It was very beautiful, but that was enough for one day.  The photos aren't much good, but do prove it. I was steering with one hand, just in case I had to change course, while taking the picture.  I managed to get the sky or the water, but rarely both.  I could have got closer, but I'm in a hurry.  I've a boar waiting for me at home."

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) by e-mail this morning.

 

"It is 1h20 UTC and it's been light for an hour.  Not as cold tonight (7degrees) .  Spent a long time on manoeuvres, but it wasn't really very useful.  Not easy to find the compromise between the sea state, wind, sail surface, ballast!  I gybed an hour ago.  Now I'm on the right course and can finally get some rest.  The sea has calmed and is offering long surf.  The sun is hiding, but it's bright enough on my veranda this morning."
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas) in his daily message

 

"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)