PRB has been loaded onto the Russian cargo vessel Peter Rönna. The operation began at 1000 GMT this morning in ideal weather conditions. There was no wind. The skies were cloudy, but there was no rain. PRB’s shore team had been out there for twelve days or so and were able to coordinate the procedures, with the main difficulty being the language barrier.  The monohull is ready for a voyage, which is due to last about 25 days. The Peter Rönna left Ushuaïa at 1600 GMT. It will be stopping at Santos in Brazil before heading for Lorient in Brittany, where PRB will be unloaded.

Tomorrow among the crowds turning out to welcome Michel Desjoyeaux , there will be some of the skippers, who were forced to retire from the race: Vincent Riou, Jean le Cam, Dominique Wavre, Jérémie Beyou, Kito de Pavant, Sébastien Josse et Bernard Stamm. Some will be out on the water, while others have been invited along as expert commentators by the French media.

Based on the Great Circle route, the Race Directors have calculated that the total distance for the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe is 24,840 miles. However, Michel Desjoyeaux, and indeed all the other competitors, will have covered hundreds of miles more than this, as they have had to adapt their route to the weather conditions.

“Last night really heavy weather conditions started. I don’t know why, the weather report was not so bad but the sea is tricky and at 0400 LT in the morning a squall hit Nauticsport Kapsch very hard. Before I could be on deck the boom came back and the lazy jack broke. In the end it was a dangerous situation while Nauticsport Kapsch ran across the waves and I had to control the sails again. The wind was so strong that I was not able to bring the boat back on course for a few minutes. It seemed like hours to me. Then the squall became less strong for a few seconds and I was able to bring the boat back on course and furl the GE1 to the last 50 centimetres, just before the sail was furled completely the furling line broke. In the end I was lucky that nothing more happened than a broken cable and a broken block and I had to fight for 1 hour and I also hope that this was the last "present" the Southern Ocean gives to me! Right now, at 1400 UTC the weather is very rough, and the sea is really confused. It`s raining, but the wind is not too strong and the track is good. Now I will have some nice Chinese noodles and rest a little bit. After that things look better again!”
Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch) in his daily message
 

In the 1000 GMT rankings, Michel Desjoyeaux was just 246 miles from the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne. He is currently sailing in the middle of the Bay of Biscay averaging 14-15 knots in a wind that will gradually ease off, as he crosses a ridge of high pressure

The British skipper crossed the Equator at 0020 GMT . Bahrain Team Pindar has become the sixth boat to enter the Northern Hemisphere, 10 days 19 hours and 5 minutes after Michel Desjoyeaux. Dee Caffari should soon be following him. In the 1000 GMT rankings this morning, she was 80 miles from the famous line. 

Thompson’s passage from Cape Horn to the Equator is the second quickest so far this race, 17 hours slower than the time taken by Desjoyeaux. In effect their times could be considered comparable since the British skipper turned back to shelter in the lee of the Island de Los Estados after Cape Horn.