In a cruel twist, the wind has swung into the east making the closing stages of the EDS Atlantic Challenge a real challenge for the crew of AlphaGraphics. The forecast predicts that the wind will remain in the east for the remaining 300 miles that the girls have to run.

“It is now blowing 20 knots out of the east and the sea is quite lumpy,” said Helena Darvelid, skipper of AlphaGraphics. “Unfortunately the wind is right on the nose so that we can’t even lay the course. It’s making the last few miles more difficult than we had hoped, but it’s okay. We’re still having fun.”

At the last poll AlphaGraphics was 285 miles from the finish sailing at 9 knots. Unless the wind lifts them, they will make slow progress towards France and have not yet given an ETA. Meanwhile the crews and race officials are getting ready for the prize-giving which will take place on Wednesday evening in St Malo.