The following updates were received from British yachtsman Brian Thompson (pictured), crewman onboard maxi trimiran Banque Populaire V during their Jules Verne Trophy Record attempt:

17:30 27 January – 03N 30W
 
Crossing the doldrums now, lots of rain clouds this morning and very light and shifty winds from every compass direction. Hot and humid work changing the sails, the position of the gear, daggerboard and mast canting all the time for max speed. A satisfying 8 hours on deck getting through each cloud.

This afternoon still light but clearer skies so steadier winds, but wind in North so not yet out of the doldrums into the SE Tradewinds. We keep on trying for every mile southwards!

07:30 28 January – 1S 30W
 
Just crossed the equator in the second fastest time ever, and just ahead of Groupama when she set the current Jules Verne Record.
 
It was a slowish doldrums crossing so we lost time there for sure, but did as well as we could in the conditions we had.
 
Still NE winds here and we have just got SE winds in a rain cloud, is this the start of the new tradewinds
 
3 of the crew had a very simple but traditionally nasty crossing the line ceremony and had to drink a concoction Yvon made of olive oil, Tabasco, soya sauce, lemon, pepper and coffee!
 
I made an offering to Neptune of some of France’s finest saucisson, something I would have enjoyed , but better to propitiate the god of the sea, just in case, and to keep the tradition; this is my 13 crossing now, so it has worked so far!

Brian