"Sad news today is Artemis/Jonny Malbon retiring from the race due to mainsail delamination. Jonny and I are like iridium pen pals after talking nearly every day through the gales of the Indian Ocean. A very tough decision for him to make. He'll head for Auckland, New Zealand now. En route we'll continue to talk, and he said that once ashore, he'll give a  call every couple of days. it was important for him too to have a soulmate in the gales out there.  So we enter the Pacific alone.  Steve White is 1000miles ahead and going faster and away. Norbert and Raphael are about 1000nm behind and going similar speed to us. it was great to have Jonny within 100 miles."

Rich Wilson (Great Amercain III) in his daily message

"The sea and wind conditions are better now, particularly the sea, which is not as rough. Between manoeuvres, I have been reading Erik Orsenna "Portrait du Gulf Stream", one of my Christmas presents. A book you can put down and pick up without losing the thread. An excellent book from someone with passion. One that you want to read more of! I shall be passing the gate on the eastern edge. My veranda is holding out. The hour of sunshine this morning was really nice. Cleaning, bailing out, shaving. Cali, the perfect housekeeper has worked miracles. Everything smells nice inside if we forget the omnipresent damp and the charming smell of diesel. From the veranda in the Pacific on the slalom run between two gates."
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)in his daily message
 

"Yesterday I passed a special mark in my personal voyage around the globe. Eleven years ago, Royal and SunAlliance was dismasted at 52S 129W during our Trophee Jules Verne record attempt.  I was ony 23 and unknowingly on the adventure that would pave out the path for my carreer. I think I was almost too young really - I remember suffering so much from the cold, fatigue, fear and discovering how to go way beyond my limits for the first time.  We all learnt so much on that record attempt. In fact we were sailing our catamaran to record pace when we were dismasted which made the blow even harder to swallow. We had been hit by a huge wave, residual from the 60-knot storm we had recently ridden out.  We had all promised that we'd be back, and this is my part of that promise, eleven years on!  Ever since the start of this Vendee Globe, there has been just one little fear that I have not talked about to anyone because it is stupid - and that is to get beyond the longitude of our dismasting, safe and well. So, now it is done - Roxy has passed over 129W and I have toasted our mast, and given Neptune some chocolate. I feel like a little weight has lifted off me and I can now really aim for Cape Horn!"

Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message

"Incredible! I knew Moitessier grew lentils or peas, to get his supply of vitamin C to ward off scurvy, and that others are seaweed to fight against boredom. I've seen weed growing on the transoms of boats where the water can be stagnant. But this is a first, there's weed in the cockpit on the floor. I can't tell you what kind or variety, but it's definitely not paint or dirt. It just shows that we're in the wet all the time and it never dries off. I'm going to call in the surgeon to fit me out with gills considering the circumstances. But meanwhile this is going to have to dry out. If all goes well it will be a question of hours now..."
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his daily message
 

"It has been a difficult past 24 hours. The wind has been gusting 47 knots and in the lulls been as low as 22 knots and the sea has been huge having a large impact on the speed of the boat. Poor Aviva has been over powered at times and hugely under powered at times.  It has been difficult progress but we hope the worst is through now as the gusts have not exceeded 37 knots recently but I can tell you the waves are still massive. We can be screeching along at 25 knots or stuck between waves at 9 knots of boat speed. So a little uncomfortable and it has meant a restless night for me so I will be trying to sleep some more when I can and that will be easier when the wind stops whistling through the rigging."

Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message this evening

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) sailed into the Derwent River Estuary off Hobart, Tasmania this afternoon and was due to step ashore at 16.30 GMT. As for Unai Basurko (Pakea Bizkaia), he signalled his arrival at 14h this afternoon in Cascais, Portugal, where he will be staying for a few days before continuing all the way home to Bilbao.