First the good news. I’m going to be able to send photos of life on board via Iridium, even if it’s a bit long, as I really want to share my experience. The second good news is that I have found some wind. Not very strong but it is pushing my veranda towards the north. After reaching after the Falklands where I lost out to the British, the wind has eased off and shifted making me head northwards, while they continue towards the NE. I am now quite some way to the west with a slight westerly flow, which tends to drag me towards the high... The charts aren’t very clear and different from reality with light winds. On board all is well. Reading, trimming, mostly outside and something I didn’t do much in the Southern Ocean, I’m spending time at the helm without foulies, without a hat, but with sunglasses on!» Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas) by e-mail.

“Well, I am still trying to escape the clutches of this thundery front! I have been sailing into it all day, but inside the front there are thunderstorms and rain, and no wind, so each time I reach the front, Roxy stops, the front moves forward, and so we find ourselves spat out the back! Then the process starts again! So, it seems that Roxy is only allowed to move forward as fast as the front is oving.... no matter how hard I try! It is hard work, as in the front, before it dies off, the wind is shifty and gusty, so I have been manoeuvring, gybing, tacking.... There are loads of insects hitching a ride on roxy - all kinds of flying things, which are fine during the day, but quite scary at night because when I am wearing my head-torch they keep flying into my face! As you can imagine, a girl with a big moth suddenly flapping around her head -traditional noisy reaction!  As I write, we have come to another windless stop, the sails are flapping around in the swell, and there is torrential rain battering the decks! At least it's warm rain! I have to go and be ready to change trim for the next
puff of wind....”
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

“Well I tried and it took me ages, so you can imagine my disappointment when it kind of failed. Yes, just for a change I am talking about my mainsail. The wind was forecast to go light and I knew this would be my opportunity. I was nervous as I had gained so much ground on Pindar and I didn't want to slow my boat down. However, I had to take advantage of the slow conditions and light breeze so I dropped the main and started my wrestle with my 6 metres x 4 metres of code 5 sail material. I began to stick it to the area on my main where the damaged fibres are, the idea being that I will put a layer of material over the damaged area on both sides to protect the fibres in this spot. It took me three hours, lots of tape, some epoxy resin, some sikaflex, some cursing and a lot of patience. That does not include the hoisting and lowering numerous times to get to all four corners. Eventually I decided I could hoist, but unfortunately by the time I got to a full hoist the top area had come unstuck and was already falling away! The theory is correct but I now need to hope it stays where it is until I do the other side and then I think I am going to have to try and secure it again. I will probably have to stitch the corners. I did, in an extreme measure, try the skin staples from my medical kit but they didn't work. Anyway, the good news is that I am at a full hoist with my mainsail for the first time in ages and I have now been able to put a bigger headsail up in these light conditions, which is great. I know once I gybe and pick up the south easterly breeze I will need to do the operation again on the other side but until then I just need to keep Aviva moving. As for me - I am physically exhausted and now going to have a well earned shower and change of clothes!”
Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message
 

“Staysail and 2 reefs in the mainsail, sea reducing, cold, blue sky /squalls from time to time, reaching. Got 2 naps in this morning. Transferred fuel from main tanks to buffer tank for the next week. Weather should be consistent for next 24 hours then perhaps lighter wind. Read President Obama's Inaugural Address. Brilliant. Recommend it to all.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

Vincent Riou’s team reached Ushuaïa a week ago. Since then, they have been busy with the monohull preparing to load her on the cargo vessel. PRB had her keel removed on Monday. The four members of the team have been stacking sails inside the boat to ensure the boat is well balanced before she is lifted by crane. The daggerboards and boom have been wedged in place for the long voyage between South America and Europe. The cargo boat is due to leave on 25th or 26th January and the voyage is set to last around 25 days.

“Today I had real problems with my canting keel but I was able sort it out. Anyway it was a tricky situation when the keel cable from the starboard side got stuck on the winch. I tried to clear it by using another winch but in the end I had to fix a 3 tonne belt as a "brake" and cut the cable directly on the end of the keel head. So you see, even this problem cannot stop me from sailing the full distance. I am looking forward to having my birthday just one or two days before passing Cape Horn. So Neptune send us some decent weather !”
Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch) in his daily message