Rhythm of the Race Solid double digit progress for most of the boats.

Standings table 

Top 3

1.  PRB  47:4 South 120:5 East
2.  Sill 49 South 117 East + 83 miles 
3.  Sobedo 51 South 108:5 East +286 miles

Fleet round up section

Javier Sanso will be sailing Old Spice to Australia because of a broken rudder.  He thought of continuing with just one rudder, but decided that was not the prudent choice.  

This leaves 18 boats still officially racing, down from the 24 that started.

Mike Golding and Group 4 paused at Possession Island to fix his genoa.  He had to unfurl the sail and attempt to climb 20 feet up the head stay to reattach the head.  He did not get it done.  The boat was knocked over with him up the rig and he had to cut himself off the rig.  He will continue east and try again for repair at the Kerguelen Islands.

PRB is still the leader, by 83 miles over Sill.  This is a gain of 58 miles.  In 3rd is Sobedo 286 miles back.

Currently PRB is several knots slower than her pursuers.  This due to not quite having hooked onto the next low, which is just ahead.

Skipper Communications

Javier Sanso Old Spice "I guess I put too much of myself into this and that was no good, because now I feel empty...When you think about it, it’s only a race, but for me it was a race and my future professionally speaking, now it’s going to be very hard to find a new sponsor…anyway the only good thing is that there’s nothing stopping me from winning the next one!"

Marc Thiercelin Active Wear "Physically I am fine! Mentally as well! We are in a strange weather situation. I haven’t taken any risks yet but I am not bothered after two months at sea."

Catherine Chabaud Whirlpool "I’ve spent two hours making large tacks instead of gybes to progress downwind."

Thierry Dubois Solidaires "We are in the area, where four years ago, it didn’t go well but the conditions are different as the last time we were in a really bad storm. I am trying not to think too much about the position where I lost my boat. I think it was further South as we didn’t have the Heard Island as a waypoint. It wasn’t nice but now I am back with a new boat."

Michel Desjoyeaux PRB "I don’t feel like I’m an adventurer, but far from thinking that what I’m doing is a relaxation! Adventurer! I don’t think I am someone who is seen by others as a ground-breaker!  For two days I haven’t left the cabin. It’s squally and overcast outside. Ten minutes I tried helming for yesterday but it was so cold I couldn’t hold on."

Josh Hall EBP/Gartmore "I am truly in the rhythm of life aboard now and at one with my fantastic green machine. This weather is better than a 50 knot storm so no real complaints here!"

Mike Golding Group 4 "I am very tired today and have seen the signs of my being overly tired - feeding lines onto winches the wrong way round, nearly filling the sugar canister with boiling water rather than my cup."

Current weather conditions For the leader, south south east winds.  For the others on the other side of the system NW winds 15-20 knots.

Weather Forecast Continuing good winds via low pressure systems.

What does it all mean

Desjoyeaux comes off as a cautious sailor.  In this fleet he will have to take risks to win.