“It’s a long slog up the tropical North Atlantic against the NE Trades. I am well heeled over with wave after wave hitting the boat. Down below it’s a matter of holding on, not to get thrown against the unforgiving carbon hull. The spray is flying across the deck every 5 seconds as the boat pitches into the next wave. I am attempting to take it easy to the finish with my one leaking ram and my repaired bow structure, so it’s not the conditions I would ask for! But it is very normal for this part of the ocean - and what makes going the other way such fun! I am about half way through this section so there are another three days of this upwind sailing to go, until I am near the latitude of the Canary Islands, and just north of the latitude of Bahrain. Then there will be a high pressure to pass before reaching the westerly winds of the temperate North Atlantic, which should take me past the Azores and to Les Sables. Yesterday I had a failure of the rope purchase that held the J3 headsail down to the deck. The rope just parted after 24,000 miles and the sail flew backwards and wrapped itself around the leeward shrouds which attach to the end of the outriggers. I was asleep at the time and it was pitch dark. I woke up because something felt wrong, and I shone a torch at the bow and there was no sail. There it was, gone! I immediately saw where the sail had ended up, and I bore away and tried to pull the sail out of its tangle around the lower shroud, but it would not budge. I then lowered the halyard and got as much sail on deck as possible and tied it off, to stop it wrapping it further.
Yesterday I had numerous close encounters with large white fishing boats, I went by seven of them, each of them similarly sized and white. They must have been working together but what kind of fishing they were doing I have no idea, as they had no stern reels for putting out nets or lines. They did not appear to be doing any fishing, very odd. Sam had warned me about them, and in turn I let Dee know about them. Otherwise there are no vessels at all. I noticed that something very strange happened to the sun, it was behind me and to the south! For 70 days I had been used to the sun always to my north and for it to be travelling from right to left through the day. Now, back in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun travels from left to right through the day, quite disconcerting at first.”
Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) in his daily message
 

“At 18H43 GMT on 3rd February, I went from one hemisphere to another; from the south to north. Physically nothing changed, but I really felt like I could see that imaginary line on the horizon. This evening to celebrate I opened a jar of duck pâté and a bottle of champagne I was given at the start. I’ll share that with Neptune and my veranda. This was my sixth crossing of the Equator in the Atlantic. For me, this was a magical moment and takes on a particular meaning in a round the world race.”
Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas) in his daily message
 

Starting on November 9, the Virtual Vendee Globe race organized by www.virtualregatta.com has become a worldwide social phenomenon with more than 320 000 players. Thirty six hours after Michel Desjoyeaux triumphant arrival in Les Sables d'Olonne, another big winner presented himself at the finish line of the Vendee Globe, but this one was a Virtual one. INDERWELTSEIN crossed the finish line at 9am (local time) this morning leaving his nearest opponent more than 80 miles behind. INDERWELTSEIN’s skipper did not expect this victory that emerged in the Azores in the last few days of the race.

No fewer than 32 motor boats and RIBs ensured the finish went smoothly on Sunday. This fleet made up of Antares and a Monte Carlo 37, on loan from BENETEAU and several Pro Open 650 and 850 boats lent by ZODIAC, enabled the winner to be welcomed home in the best possible conditions. Responsible for safety out on the water, contributing to the show, transporting journalists and organisers…none of this would have been possible without the generosity for these partners. The organisers therefore wish to thank ZODIAC and BENETEAU for their collaboration and remind everyone that the Vendée Globe special edition Zodiac is still on sale.

Armel Le Cléac’h, now in second place is expected to reach les Sables d’Olonne between 18h00 GMT on Thursday 5th February and 06h00 GMT on Saturday 7th February.
Samantha Davies and Marc Guillemot are likely to reach the finish between 18h00 GMT on 9th February and 18h00 GMT on 11th February.
Brian Thompson ETA between 12h00 GMT on 10th and 12h00 on 12th February.
Dee Caffari between 00h00 on 12th and 12h00 GMT on 14th February

For Armel Le Cléac’h conditions will be difficult to Cape Finisterre with a NW’ly wind blowing between 35 and 45 knots (gusting 50-60 knots in squalls) and heavy seas with 7-10 metre high waves. The wind is expected to reach its maximum strength between 18h00 this evening and 06h00 tomorrow morning
 

“What a difference a day makes! Crystal blue skies, sea down, wind down, drifting along first NE then tacked NW to get to new wind a bit earlier, had a shower in the cockpit, had a shave, washed hair (pretty shaggy, will have to cut it soon). I saw a small pod of whales cross our wake about 1/4 mile behind, one pretty big one, and an errant flying fish, heading south, all by himself. I shouted to him "Wrong way! The warm water is this way!", but he paid me no mind. Jonny Malbon called today, what a great guy. He's taking a bit of time to de-stress from his Vendée Globe effort in the French Alps. Had a good chat, talked about wiring the other instruments on the deck somewhere. Really kind of him to call, and I greatly appreciate it. Contemplated going aloft to try to replace one of the instrument sets, but I need to get back to a routine of better sleep and food before tackling that, if indeed I decide to try it. We have a long way to go upwind, and the instrument steering is so much more efficient than compass steering. We'll see, no commitment one way or the other. Still off Buenos Aires, and the air IS good here. Sun was hot today, that is a first since we were in the South Atlantic so long ago.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message