Finally freed by the Pacific, a fortnight after passing the East Pacific Gate, the skipper of Nauticsport-Kapsch today crossed the longitude of Cape Horn. At 14h07 GMT, Norbert Sedlacek became the final competitor to round the legendary cape. The 400-mile gap that has quickly built up between the Austrian sailor and Raphaël Dinelli should start to narrow, as the latter is carrying out a pit stop in the Falklands.

Because of the difficult conditions Brit Air faced last night her ETA has been modified. Armel Le Cléac’h is now expected to reach Les Sables d’Olonne between 09h00 GMT on Friday 6th February and 15h00 GMT on Saturday 7th February.

“The foulies are back on each time I want to go outside to check the trim or put a reef in or shake it out. The bumpy ride continues with Aviva crashing off some big waves which sends shivers down my spine as the noise is horrible. Each morning is spent with a deck check and the revolting job of throwing the nights collection of flying fish caught by Aviva as she sails back into the water. I have been spending time looking at the weather and at the moment I hope things change as it looks like the group ahead will get through and then the Azores high elongates east to west to shut me out from reaching the favourable winds beyond. Another two days of doldrums will be a cruel blow so close yet so far from the finish!”

Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message yesterday evening
 

“What a day. After yesterday's recuperative oopportunity, with shower and shave, and light winds, expected more through night, but no. Grib files off by 100% again in wind velocity. Boat took beating going upwind, staysail and 3 reefs in main. Stayed up with boat much of night in cockpit cuddy. Suddenly seemed quiet. The boat was bearing off, no pilot. Grabbed tiller, got organized downwind, rolled staysail, tried backup pilot, no backup pilot. Now what? 25 knots of wind, open 60, dark, no pilots. Remembered heave-to to self steer, but have never done it. Just read about it. It worked, sort of , with tiller lashed in middle, mainsail out, staysail sheeted wrong side, partially opened. Boat sails up into wind. Staysail pushes back down. Balance may be found. Sort of found it. Linkages to tiller ok, except looked as though maybe a bolt missing. OK so that's problem, but how to get another in, because needed rudders all the way over one way or the other, because whole thing underneath traveller track, but how to do that with no one able to steer. Then I remembered, total irony, the key to heaving-to, is to have the rudder hard over to leeward, not centerline, like I had it, and we had already done one total circle out of control with the rudder centreline. We're linked again. Not quite the right bolt, but will not make change until have really calm conditions. That was a potential game ender if some piece that couldn't be replaced here was broken, but King Neptune frowned then smiled on us so off we go.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

“I had a bit of a shock as there is an eye staring up at me from the cockpit floor! Like in a scary movie! I guess that it has been ejected in a high-impact collision between fish and boat, and I am sure I will find its owner in the morning! I just don't want to tread on it with bare feet! The peaceful days of trade wind sailing are soon behind me as I start to have to manoeuvre around and across the Azores high pressure. I am going to need some big energy to do the manoeuvres and stacking required in the next few days! Maybe, when I tack and change the stack I will find where my Imp has stashed away the headtorches, socks, scissors, winch grease and Nutella..... (well, maybe not the Nutella!) And now the finish is getting nearer I am starting to look forward to things that I haven't thought about much before, like fresh fruit and vegetables, a long hot shower.... and I wonder if I'll be able to lie still for a whole night's sleep?”
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

“If you went on holiday and the weather was like it has been here over the past few days you would not be disappointed - it has been glorious. The water is just the right temperature for bathing babies, the sun is very strong and right overhead at midday, and the breeze is warm and pleasant at night when you go out to look at the stars. I think this must be where the baby flying fish live - I have not seen any that are bigger than half grown but thre are hundreds of them. Birds are a different matter - just one for a hours only as he flew just ahead of the boat looking for flying fish with his beady eye; he was greeny brown with a pointy tail and beak like a needle and about three quarters the size of a gannet. Since then, nothing, no visible company at all. I have been busy however. The generator needed fiddling with again because as the water and hence the batteries get warmer the way they charge changes, and if you're not careful the generator is overcharging like mad and my nice rectangular batteries are about to become cooked into shapes like egg boxes! A blocked fuel filter was complicating the process of setting it up; I must have had a really dirty fill of fuel from somewhere, but it's OK now. I changed generator engine oil and stopped the water leak from the engine exhaust, so we are a bit drier downstairs now, which is a good thing.

I am really short of cold things to eat - it's hard to summon up the enthusiasm for two hundred and fifty grams of pasta and sauce when it's this hot! However, I'm hardly burning three thousand calories a day or whatever it's supposed to be just moving around and keeping warm like you do in the Southern Ocean! It is strange to think about my position in the race at the moment. I have to be careful what I say as I haven't finished yet, but if you'd have told me before the start that I'd be in eighth place at any point I'd have said it you were mad - it is more than ten places better than my wildest dreams! I think it is a reflection on how strong and simple the boat is as much as anything though. Personally I don't feel any different after my adventures but I am looking forward to getting home now and wearing my slippers by the fire, walking the dogs, bike riding with the kids, and getting set up for the future with renewed energy after my adventures, it's just that the South Atlantic doesn't want to release us without a fight.........still, four days to the North East Trades, steady sailing and the last ocean to cross!”
Steve White (Toe in the Water) in his daily message