Vendée Globe

The low-pressure area over the north of New Zealand is deepening and approaching the leaders of the fleet accompanied by some fairly strong winds (30/35 knots with gusts of 40-45 knots). This system, which developed over the last couple of days, is producing cross seas with 4m to 5m high waves. Tthere are two distinct swell patterns (a NW'ly swell and a residual SW'ly flow) are coming together with a northerly wind. This is a very similar situation to what the competitors faced in the Bay of Biscay (almost directly on the other side of the world on 24th December) early on in the race.
The strong winds that accompanied Brit Air and PRB over the past couple of days are moving southwards and they are now subject to a transition zone before they reach the gales currently at the front of the fleet. Paprec is in the influence of a high and will be slowed down throughout the night (the day of 24th in Europe). She will be able to take off again when the northerly wind from the low to the south of Tasmania approaching Safran and Roxy has caught them. The centre of this system passed right over Pindar in the past 12 hours and very close to Aviva and Akena. They faced difficult sailing conditions with 40-45 knot winds gusting to 60 knots in very heavy seas (8 to 10m waves) and cross seas.
Further back, the conditions are not quite as tricky, but the wind remains strong 30/35 knots gusting to 40/45) with short calm breaks with winds down to 20-25 knots. But the sea remains rough, as the waves do not have time to calm down between the systems - 24h of strong winds and 6 h of calm. The conditions are thus deteriorating each day in the Indian Ocean, making it increasingly difficult for the tailenders
Sylvain Mondon
Météo-France