“Sailed east of Falkland Islands. When saw a blue shading within the 200m line of depth on the se side of the islands, then on zoom, saw seaweed icons, did a big swerve to get offshore again, thinking that the last thing I needed was to sail into a kelp bed and get stuck in the light air conditions. Came across a small cruising sailboat dead ahead. Radar didn't pick it up at all. I turned several degrees to port, and we passed about 200 meters apart, spoke on the vhf. Group of 4 sailing to Ushuaia, then into the Pacific, then up the west coasts of both south America and North America, to get to Vancouver. Had a nice chat for 20minutes,then signed off. What a great cruise that will be. At the end of Falkland Islands, wind very finicky, either very strong, or not so strong, knock us on our ear, or we're upright slamming, very hard to get the right sail combination. Big lows ahead,looking to merge, all hope of straightforward passage up the South Atlantic is dashed.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message

Les Sables d’Olonne is preparing to welcome home the heroes, and receive the crowds that are expected to turn up this weekend for the finish. The «Finish Village» will be oficially inaugurated tomorrow at 10h30 (local time). An hour later, Philippe de Villiers, President of the SEM Vendée, the Vendée Globe organising body and Patricia Brochard, co-president of Sodeb’O, will open the radio session in French.

Please note that exceptionally, the French weekly radio show, presented by Pierre Louis Castelli will take place on Friday at 17h30 (local time) instead of Thursday evening.
 

The latest ETAs established by Sylvain Mondon of Météo France on the basis of the positions yesterday evening and yesterday’s weather models:

Foncia :
ETA between 15h GMT on 31st and 18h GMT on 1st February

Veolia Environnement:
ETA between12h GMT on 2nd and 12h GMT on 4th

Brit Air :
ETA between 12h GMT on 5th and 12h GMT on 7th
 

“I have been savouring another magical moment tonight. It's unusual, as there is not much wind, and normally in the light winds I am frustrated to not be going faster, but tonight (I don't know why) I'm zen and just enjoying it - how can you not? I should be getting some sleep, but I can't drag myself away from the cockpit, where I sit, under the stars with the full sails towering black silhouettes above me. Roxy is trickling along on a flat sea, and the air is so warm I'm in my T-shirt. There is a ship a few miles away trundling past, his nav lights twinkle on the horizon. It's hard to describe, but it is just a great moment, out here alone with my Roxy boat, with peaceful conditions that allow me to look back and think about everything we've done together so far! But sleep is important, so now I am going to get some rest. I have decided that the quality of my sleep is related to how fast Roxy is going! When she's going really fast I seem to sleep so much better! So, I think I should count sleep in miles and not in hours.... for example, 2 hours sleep at a speed of 7 knots is equivalent to 1 hours sleep at 14 knots - i.e. 14 miles sleep. So, seeing as we're not going too fast tonight, I need a few hours sleep to get a decent rest!”
Sam Davies (Roxy) in his daily message
 

“Like back in France, out here on my veranda, I’m getting ready to go on strike. They lied to me. They haven’t kept their promises. I was supposed to get an easterly wind and all I get is a northerly! I shall be out demonstrating against this and campaigning for an increase of ten knots. It’s just not possible to discuss with those who are responsible in Wind HQ. I’m also fighting for reductions in diesel consumption. Long live solar panels and wind generators!"
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)in his daily message
 

180 miles from the Equator, Marc Guillemot (Safran) is beginning to worry about what lies ahead, “Armel Le Cléac’h got through the Doldrums without any hold ups, but it’s not certain that it’s going to be like that for us. Yesterday, I looked at where Mich, Bilou and of course, Armel were. In the next 48 hours, we’re in a different race, so it’s up to me to get through the Doldrums as quickly as possible”