Yann Eliès flew into Paris early this morning with his family on a flight from Perth. He then took an internal flight to Lannion in NW France accompanied by a doctor and nurse. He will thus be back in Brittany with his friends and family to see in the New Year, although it will be in a clinic, rather than in his home. On his arrival in Paris, Yann expressed his thanks to the medical team in Perth, who confirmed the fractured femur and spotted a fractured pelvis and backbone. Following an operation he has been able to move around in a wheelchair and regained a semblance of independence. He now faces 6 weeks of complete rest in the clinic and this will be followed by six months of therapy.
 

Bernard Stamm arrived on Reunion Island yesterday morning (local time) aboard the Marion Dufresne supply vessel. They were able to unload Cheminées Poujoulat and place her in a secure zone, where a thorough inspection will be carried out.
 
“We are in the NNW of the island, in a port situated between Saint Denis and Saint Paul and referred to as the Old Harbour in Reunion. We are housed with a local family. Yesterday, after getting off the Marion Dufresne, we thanked the crew and then went for dinner and off to bed. I removed the keel during my stay aboard the Marion and today we’re going to clear away everything we can on Cheminées Poujoulat so that Jacques Le Berre (an expert in composites) can get to work to assess the damage. What happens after that will depend on the results of this analysis. Things are a little better on a personal level, even though it’s high time I saw my family again. In the meantime I wish you all festive tidings and above all a very happy new year.”
 

"We've been making good time today, in the right direction, with little loading of the boat, I can't remember when we last did this. The boat is sailing very well, balanced, nearly full keel cant, for the slight variations in the wind direction and speed that are normal, the balance of the sails and the autopilot is good, we keep charging along, and power occasionally up to 16/17 knots, but without the chaotic charges down waves up to the 20s that we've had in the storms before. We can see the horizon, it's been a while since we've seen that also, so I keep looking for ships, but have seen none. A few albatross circle; the sky is very gray; misty rain comes along occasionally; yet the rainsqualls have only an extra knot or two of wind, not an extra 20 knots. Needed this day, needed to make some easy miles ..."
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

"Did you know that offshore sailors (maybe everyone) actually have two brains? Well, we do! One is a clever brain, that makes all the right decisions, is sensible, tidy, rational and patient; the other is the "stupid brain" that makes silly mistakes, and generally tries to create havoc! Normally, we exist with the two brains in "synch" and fortunately the clever brain seems to keep the stupid brain in check most of the time! There are, however, small flaws that can cause "hiccups" if not best avoided. The clever brain is not perfect, and it is certainly not a "morning" brain! It takes a lot of time to wake up and get functioning. Unfortunately, on wake up, the stupid brain is up and running at 100% in a matter of seconds. This stupid brain then tries to persuade you that it is your clever brain so it can get control.....Obviously, lacking the clever brain, (who has pressed "snooze" on its alarm several times by now) you are unable to analyse which brain is in action, and that is where potential disasters can happen! Thus, the moral of the story is - when you wake up after a little sleep beware of the stupid brain, and wait a bit before trying to do something complicated or making a tactical decision, to give the clever brain time to get going!Just this morning, I made the error of listening to my stupid brain and I gybed too early! How annoying is that? It's been a long time since I fell into this trap. And if you ever hear me talking rubbish on the "vacation radio" you now know that it is probably because I've just woken up and its my stupid brain talking, not the clever one, so just ignore me!"
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

Over the past 24 hours, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) currently in the lead, 9158.2 miles from the finish, sailed the greatest distance towards the finish. Between 19h yesterday and this evening, he covered 399.4 miles
 

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