"The fresh winds from the new low pressure system in the south are propelling me along very efficiently towards the next gate and I'm making some miles on the next boats as I bring in the new wind. I suspect the gains will diminish as I get closer and they start to experience the same wind conditions. I am watching the weather closely and trying to make the decision on a strategy to get around the Kerguelen Islands. I have this theory about islands in the middle of the ocean. They are magnets for carbon boats. Seems no matter what, they eventually become an obstacle that has to be dealt with.  The night was relatively easy but at one point the winds reached 37 knots and it was time to furl the solent as the boat was getting over stressed.  I was getting exhausted as I was unable to sleep with the speeds and noise of the waves and boat on the edge all the time. Sometimes you have to throttle back just a bit to save some energy. I slept for two hours in cat naps and feel much better today for it. The winds have diminished slightly and the solent is back working again."
Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada)

 

Cheminées Poujoulat has now been successfully loaded aboard the supply vessel Marion Dufresne.  Bernard Stamm is on board, and is said to be relieved, but tired.  The boat is due to leave the Kerguelens in a few minutes according to the government representative, Frédéric Martineau.

 

"Last night at 1000 utc a very strong squall hit Nauticsport-Kapsch. I was sailing at high speed under genoa 1 and mainsail 2.  As much as I tried, I was not able to continue in these stormy conditions. I had to stop for around one hour to bring both sails down. It was a tricky manoeuvre, the genoa went in the rough sea and all the lines from the mainsail got tangled.  In the end I was able to manage the tricky situation without losing a sail or having important equipment broken, just the genoa has a few little tears near the head. Right now I am again under sail heading to the next waypoint.  The sea is very rough and it is not a nice sail so that means it can only get better."  Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch) in his daily message  

 

In an e-mail sent this morning to the race directors, Frédéric Martineau, the government representative on the Kerguelens confirmed  that Dominique Wavre set sail this morning at 05.15 UTC.  The Swiss sailor set out «feeling much happier and pleased with the new part, which will allow him to move his keel slightly, thus enabling him to feel much more confident about the next few days of sailing as he makes his way to Australia.»

 

"The Indian didn't dig up the hatchet, but feathers have been ruffled.  Haven't seen more than 42 knots down here over the last 15 days, served up with a few bits of ice for the drinks.  I can remember tougher conditions in this region. 2 masts, one keel and some rudders and some other unmentionable damage, but what else (and I'm not excluding myself)? So the question today is will the Pacific pacify us (with fewer punishments), some good behaviour and serenity."

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his daily message

 

Dear Santa

I hope I have been good this year, and I hope you have time to come and
visit Roxy this Christmas. If not, don't worry, but if you can, here is
my Christmas wish list:

1. A Gore-tex balaclava
2. A second jockey pole, so I don't have all the palava of changing each
time I gybe
3. A hair-dryer (12 V)
4. Rust cleaner (to get rid of the marks where the solar panels rust)
5. A fractional gennaker
6. A fractional halyard
7. A penguin (request from Lucky and Foxy who are scared of Albatrosses)
8. A nail file
9. Some fruit (mangoes, oranges, apples preferably)
10. Noise reducing headphones

I hope you manage to make everyone happy this year, and that the weather
is kind to you out there on your sleigh....

Love, Sam

PS if you have a tow-rope, I'd love a tow, up to be a bit nearer the
leaders too please! Only if Rudolph doesn't mind the extra weight!