"I admit last night was better than the night before or the day before. Never-ending tacks in squalls. You end up feeling that you're really finding your way forward step by step, which is never enjoyable sailing. Sailing under ten knots may not sound that bad, but I wasn't happy. It reminds me of another experience: During a friendly race in the Figaro Grand Prix, I took aboard a businessman, a leading light in the area, who had all sorts of diplomas. His assistant told him he was "with Desjoyeaux, as he's the best and always wins." We started. A false start and we had to go back and start again. We ended up 15th, I think. During the race, the bloke never touched a single rope, never asked a single question and just chatted way to his friend throughout the entire race. Back in the harbour his assistant was waiting. "So Mr. President, what happened?" A curt reply: "I don't like rankings with two digits." Not a thank you, not a look of acknowledgement. Well, I don't like single digit speeds! But today, it's better. I like it like that."

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his daily message
 

"In the last few hours I had a great situation finding Dinelli in the middle of the South Pacific. We got contact with iridium and then later with VHF and came very close to make some pictures and videos. It is really sensational how the different situations are developing in an adventure like that. Raphael and I will see that we sail the southern Pacific together, then after Cape Horn maybe Raphael will stop to do some repairs. So in the end it was one of the most beautiful days during the race and I am very very happy about the date with Raphael and wish for the day when we have a drink in les Sables together to talk about this great moment !"
Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport Kapsch) by e-mail during the night
 

"I braved the bow of Roxy with my soap and shampoo and took my first sea water shower of the Northbound trip! The first wave was a bit of a shock, but after that it was just great! I was so covered in shower gel and shampoo I must have looked like someone in a "foam party", and as I was ready to rinse off, the wind dropped temporarily and there were no more waves!! So there I spent a good ten minutes all covered in foam, sliding around the bow of Roxy waiting for a wave! Today the wind is being good to us and allowing us to go fast in the right direction. This section of the race is pretty complicated and it is hard work trying to understand the weather and work out the best route. Between sail changes, trimming (and my shower!) I have spent a lot of time studying different weather forecasts and running routing calculations to try to get me and Roxy into the trade winds as quickly as possible."
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

"I have had the most surreal night. It has felt so strange just sailing and not trying to go anywhere. The most amazing fact of the night was that I was sailing under South America upwind. Now twice before I have sailed upwind in this neck of the woods but I never expected it on this race. So three times round Cape Horn and every time upwind, can you believe it? Aviva, true to form as always became a land magnet during our tour of the Continental shelf and we visited the Islands of Diego Ramirez. In that area and we were there for a while, I was surrounded with dolphins and countless birds. It was awesome. It was also at this time where I was struggling to stay away from the Islands that the centre of the low came over me and I had no wind and what little my instruments thought there was, was from all over the place. Here we go I thought the time has come. I was driving to try and stay away from the islands and get some boat speed. The clouds were building to my south and I knew rain and wind was coming. As I popped below to get my wet weather jacket I noticed we needed to charge. I turned the generator on and it started and stopped. Now was not a good time. Twice this happened and then I knew I had to become a mechanic. However, with rain and wind about to arrive, Islands close by and a storm to prepare for having a generator in pieces was far from ideal. The reality was I needed to charge. Time was now of the essence though and I think I even impressed myself that 40 minutes later I was back on deck sailing with the new breeze and the generator charging my batteries. The next bizarre moment was not long after this as the wind built quickly as expected. I put my forth reef in my mainsail with 20 knots of breeze. Hardly racing trim, but we needed to go slow to allow the depression to move and I knew that shortly I would be faced with huge winds and I needed to protect what little there is of my sail. I spent some time trying to cover the exposed fibres with bits of good sail and tying it up so now my fingers are crossed that it survives. Next stop is changing my staysail for the storm staysail and then I am as ready as I am going to be to face the music of our parting gift from the Southern Ocean."

Dee Caffari in her daily message
 

«In the Finistère Course au Large training centre in Port La Foret, an info board offers information about the Vendée Globe to inform visitors about how those from the centre are doing. We have in particular the five frontrunners (6 if you count Vincent). Kate has left a book for visitors to sign and among the messages, they had the following one. Ewen, 3 and a half: “Since Mummy put Michel Desjoyeaux in my bedroom, the dragon has been frightened and has left me and I can sleep without any worries!" A nice message?... What is reassuring is that I scare kids less than the nasty dragons..."
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his daily message
 

"Here, conditions are very very changeable! At the moment there are just 4 knots of wind (downwind), but only a few hours ago there were 40 (upwind)! This has left a bit of tricky sea-state and for most of the afternoon and evening I had to slow Roxy down as she was flying off the waves that were coming in the wrong direction! Very frustrating. Right now, the sea is still bad, so I have taken a reef in the main to prevent the sail from shaking the rig around too much as it "clack clacks" in the swell! Its the first time I've reefed in 4 knots of wind!Hopefully this calm patch will only last a few hours and we will pick up some Westerlies again in the morning. I'm not complaining at all, when I know that Dee, Brian and Cali are enduring the worst storm of the race at Cape Horn. My thoughts go out for them at this difficult moment in the race, and I hope they find adequate shelter and that the storm doesn't do any damage."
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message