"I dropped the aluminium anchor and 15 m of chain and 15m of polypro cable. Once anchored, I climbed the mast and 20 minutes later, a huge disappointment to discover that what I had prepared wasn't going to work as the damage was much worse above and below. I think the mainsail must have unhooked and pulled off the track and titanium section. I came back down. It was dark and raining. Extremely disappointed, I thought about setting off again, even though that meant I would only be able to sail with three reefs in. After talking it over, I changed my mind. An hour and a half to prepare the section of track measuring around 50 cm, a quick meal and a short nap until it was daylight. In the middle of the night, I heard a strange noise. I was drifting into weed. I unfurled the jib and headed south. The mooring rope was sliced through. With a few tacks I get back to my initial position. I can feel that there is weed wrapped around the keel. I anchor with the big anchor, + 15 m of chain and 10 m of a spinnaker sheet. At dawn, I am better prepared technically and psychologically, full of positive energy. Around 2h30 later, I'm satisfied. An explorer is strolling along the beach taking notes about the animals. Two worlds almost came together for a few hours, but we never got to meet. I head out of the bay with tons of weed around the keel and bulb. Over time they disappear. I enjoy that moment, setting out on a boat that will be capable of dealing with the lighter winds on the way back up the Atlantic."
Marc Guillemot (Safran) in an e-mail this morning
 

"It was just another normal day in the Southern Ocean, crisp and cold, a whitish grey light, and grey-blue sea. I looked aft, and there were two polar dolphins jumping in our wake. They've been following Roxy since last night. They are beautiful and stripy, and as far as I can see, they don't have a dorsal fin like their Atlantic cousins. There was an Albatross circling around us, and every so often he dipped towards the waves and when he climbed up again he was pedalling his feet like he was riding a bicycle! Very comic! Maybe he was just doing it to show off in front of me! At the same time, Roxy was hooning along, occasionally dipping the pole in the water and then zooming off at 23 knots down a wave, the pilot happily in control! I was just riveted to my perch on the dome, taking it all in! It's hard to do the scene justice with words, or even photos, but I couldn't stop smiling at how awesome this is and how amazingly lucky I am to be out here experiencing days like this."
Sam Davies (Roxy in her daily message
 

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) has suffered a massive knock-down and the top two spreaders on his mast have broken in half leaving the mast unsupported on the leeward side, the broken spreaders banging against the mast. At the time the Canadian skipper was sailing along under bare poles, when a huge wave knocked the boat on its side putting the mast in the water. Derek states that he was not injured and is going on deck to further assess the damage to the mast and come up with a plan of action.
 

Marc Guillemot and Safran left Sandy Bay off Enderby Island in the Auckland Islands at 20h30 GMT. Marc was able to carry out repairs to his mainsail track and set off less than 12 hours after dropping anchor in this sheltered bay.
 

Over the past 24 hours, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) currently in the lead, 9841.8 miles from the finish, sailed the greatest distance towards the finish.  Between 19h yesterday and this evening, he covered 337.1 miles
 

Sunday 26th December  2004  Less than 10,000 miles to go for the leader, Jean le Cam
Sébastien Josse back in the race after hitting a growler on 23rd, which threw his rudders out of alignment

Monday 27th December 2004 Jean-Pierre Dick and Sébastien Josse continue with the repairs to their rudders

Tuesday 28th December 2004  At the front, Jean Le Cam increases his lead

Friday 31st December 2004  Marc Thiercelin in a bay in New Zealand announces he is abandoning the race.
A violent storm with 60-knot winds batters Sébastien Josse and Dominique Wavre.