“After getting hammered again last night, with 35-40 knot headwinds, storm jib and 3 reefs in the mainsail, crashing along, very bad for the boat, finally today, we had wind. Not too much, not too little, in a good direction, so that we could make a good direction and go straight for a waypoint off Rio de Janeiro. Solent and one reef in the main, and making about 13 knots average. Easy on the boat, fairly easy on skipper. Walter Greene, the great designer, builder, racer of multihulls, said to me once, "make the easy miles Richie, there will be plenty of hard miles, so make the easy miles", meaning, when you can go, go, for as long as you can, as hard as you can. Seems forever since we had some easy miles. We needed this. Here's hoping it will last for a day or so more as forecast.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message

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