"The storm has abated for now and it's time to deal with the left over sloppy seas that causes breakages if I'm not careful. The low is sitting right on top of me and the gate and prevents any good sailing. I still have to deal with the back side of the low and some headwinds later tonight and tomorrow and I'm definitely not feeling too lucky with this situation but it will pass as they say."
Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) in his daily message

 

Dominique Wavre was able to moor up his Temenos II in Morbihan Bay in the Kerguelen Islands today at around 12.30 UTC.  He was surprised to be greeted by a French TV film crew, who just happened to be present on the island. "All went well.  The people on site really helped me. The approaches were tricky. There was 25 knots of wind on the tail and just fifty or so metres around the  buoy to moor with sufficient depth. They were a great help in positioning the boat properly. It’s a bit of a change as the boat is now full of people, cameras and a soundman…”

 

"I'm at ease sailing downwind. I love the deep south.  Last night was very strange with small calm zones and then 37 knots of wind.  My rivals were more regular than me.  It's normal they narrowed the gap.  I wasn't sure what to do this morning as the wind eased off.  What sails should I have up?  We've got so many that it takes a lot of thinking about.  I decided to wait to see what would happen and I was right, because the wind has strengthened since then. This is a very close race.  It's going to be a battle all the way to the finish."

Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) talking to his shore team this morning.

 

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands are considered to be French overseas territories and have a total surface of 2,500,000 km² Apart from Terre Adélie in Antarctica, there are the Crozet Islands (340 km²) the furthest west in the Indian Ocean, the Kerguelens (7215 km²), the furthest from the continents, St. Paul and Amsterdam the furthest north, as well as various scattered islands North of Reunion and in the Mozambique Channel.

 

After suffering keel head damage, Dominique Wavre (Temenos II) decided to head for the Kerguelens. In spite of 30-knot winds, Temenos II has continued to make good progress towards Morbihan Bay.   At 8h30 UTC this morning, Dominique had around 15 miles to sail.  However, he will have to make a series of tacks in order to enter the bay and so he is only expected to moor up late this morning (UTC).  

 

"I'm starting to notice the time difference.  It's getting dark at around 16h UTC and light at 23H UTC. You get used to the new times, as it happened gradually. The Kerguelens are behind us and we had a few e-mails from the crew of the "Croix du Sud" a Breton fishing boat that is out here until early February before returning to Reunion in mid-February. They are in the Kerguelens and Crozet area for 7 to 8 month a year fishing for the toothfish (a bit like our hake).  There were 30 on board (A Breton skipper, some from Reunion, Madagascar, Ukraine and Indonesia).  The captain was from Le Guilvinec and his mate from St Guenolé, the mechanic from Trevignon and the bosun from Douarnenez.  the other boats in the area were from Sein, Lesconil, Loctudy.  All a long way from home.  Wherever you go, you find Bretons, even in the middle of the Indian Ocean."
Armel (Brit Air) in his daily message