"Earlier we sailed directly into the trough of the elongated low, the extra tropical storm HETA, which has been sitting here in mid-Pacific spinning off secondary lows. Heta is finally about to move itself to the southeast and on to Cape Horn. After getting the big wind shift at the trough mid-point, we are coming out the east side and heading directly for the east Pacific ice gate. The wind will build, and the seas will build, and so we are hunkered down with the sail combination ready for when that happens, giving up some speed, but its OK for me. Even though we're going across the seas, the boat is pounding as it goes off waves and crashes into the troughs. Some of these are absolutely bone jarring. Last night, when we gybed in the trough to go east, I went forward and bailed the forward compartments, 4 buckets from the forepeak, and had to use the bilge pump system to bail the sail locker amidships. Also, since I could still hear water sloshing in the compartment underneath the cockpit, and our two autopilot compasses are in there, I got the water out of there, not by going back and bailing in the lazerette, because that was far too dangerous and ineffective, but by draining the compartment into the main cabin. We have a small screw drain plug between the two compartments, and although it took a while to get comfortable with draining water into the cabin, it was the simplest. Good news is that the water stayed on one side of the centerline, and I could bail it into a bucket, pour that into the sink in the main cabin, and then pump it overboard. It was simpler, and we got 4 buckets out of the cockpit compartment."
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

"Yesterday will remain an extraordinary day for me; I arrived off Tierra del Fuego in a breeze, then squalls with 50-knot winds and after that the skies cleared enabling me to see the snow capped mountains (magical!). The wind then eased off and I found myself with no wind and had to carry out manoeuvres with the dolphins alongside; the Horn was just ahead, but the wind was a header and I could only see it from afar. I was the seventh to round close to Dee. Sailing in the Southern Seas was an enriching experience, both in terms of the sights and the general atmosphere. the Ocean rules and does not hesitate to remind us of that. Then, there are the marvellous albatrosses. Thanks to the South! I'll be back having gained a lot of experience and having learnt a lot. As the seas were rough, I decided I would only open the bottle for the Cape tomorrow. the worst of the wind is behind me, but I need to remain cautious; the seas are still high and offering some incredible surfs"..
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas) in his daily message
 

"I have just spent the longest time just gazing out of my door looking at all that is around me. It won't be long now and the Southern Ocean will be behind me, for a while at least, and I shall really miss it, it has been fantastic - bleak, desolate, isolated, powerful, all of those things, but immeasurably beautiful too, with undoubtably the best sailing in the world. I am ready to leave the South though now; firstly before I break anything else more serious than the loo seat and the kettle handle, both casualties of the last blow, and secondly because then it will be nearer the time when I can come back better prepared and more knowledgable, and as much as I love my old boat, I would like to return in a faster one and keep up with the front runners. As such my thoughts are turning in earnest to looking for a sponsor to take us through to the 2012 Vendee Globe. It will be strange indeed to get back on that treadmill, but I think things will be different for us after this, and people will take us a bit more seriously. I always thought that I would want to do 2012 as well, but now I have experienced most of this race, I know I want to, and there is a big difference. First, however, I have to get home. The breeze has constantly been ranging between fifteen and thirty five knots under some enormous cumulus clouds, which makes sail choices difficult, but we are moving, and I am grateful for that, and we have only two days to go to Cape Horn. The blow we had did us some favours though, it was good fast sailing, downwind and then reaching in strong conditions with a good sea state, and the most wind we saw was about forty eight knots, so not bad at all really and certainly not as bad as forecast, so we made some good time. After the worst of the weather had passed us by, I was drying out my swamp downstairs, bucket and sponge in hand, when there was a big hissing noise, then a thump, and the boat fell over. It seemed for the longest time like water just poured and poured over the boat, shutting out the light, but in reality it probably only lasted a few seconds. I banged my cheekbone on something trying to hold onto a half full bucket of grubby bilge water! I remember thinking "Well that'll teach you to speak too soon!" I don't know if I have a bruise, the only mirror I have is just about good enough to check I haven't chopped my ears off whilst shaving! (Kim was horrified because I asked her to bring some shaving oil to Les Sable when she comes out to the finish as I ran out ages ago, and when I told her I was using cooking oil instead she was horrified! She says she doesn't want me coming home smelling, but the thing is, when I've had a shave I smell like tortellini, and that makes me hungry!) When I went outside all of my normally neatly bagged bits of string were streaming out behind the boat! Luckily the storm staysail in its bag in the cockpit was tied on! There was no sign of my big wave, it had just blended into the scenery and gone. I was glad I hadn't been on deck....."
Steve White (Toe in the Water) in his daily message
 

"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