Virbac-Paprec 3 are 550 miles from Gibraltar this morning (they are 150 miles SE of Madeira and 120 miles NE of Lanzarote) and today Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron will see their DTF (Distance to Finish) drop into three figures, under 1000 miles. Their NE’ly breeze has built a little – now up to around 17 knots.

MAPFRE are 280 miles behind in second and are lining up for their hitch north to avoid the lee of the Canaries Island of Palma. In effect they are around 30 hours behind Virbac-Paprec 3. The reality is that Iker and Xabi are running out of tactical options to get back miles on the long time leaders.

Renault Z.E Sailing Team have 20kts NE’ly trade wind and are making speeds of 14kts upwind, but will start to feel the effect of the high pressure more today as they progress towards the centre, and so rather than slow, they will likely start to move a little east. They are 155 miles west of the track that Virbac-Paprec 3 took and will essentially follow a similar upwind route, with no option than to work east and north.

They have probably another 200 miles of decent breeze to the north of their position but gradually dropping in pressure. Renault Z.E are quickest of the leading group, making 15.2kts.

Estrella Damm are 240 miles behind them – straight line – 165 miles in terms of DTF and Pepe Ribes and Alex Pella are a little slower than Renault Z.E Sailing Team this morning. But they maintain a good boatspeed advantage over fifth placed Neutrogena.

Ryan Breymaier and Boris Herrmann are 150 miles to the SE of Estrella Damm but they have build 80 miles of leverage to the east, which still leaves them a useful 38 miles behind in terms of DTF.

GAES Centros Auditivos appear to be clear of the Doldrums, 180 miles north of the Equator with 12-15kts of NE’ly wind, though they appear to have slightly less pressure to their N and E which may force them to sail a lower, faster angle for a while.

Hugo Boss are at the latitude of Cabo Frio in the light 8-11kts of NE’ly winds still, making steady progress, while FMC have some downwind conditions presently but are very much on the edge of the front again.


We Are Water switched on their engine last night some 40 miles to the NE of Cape Horn and are heading to make their boom repair in Ushuaia which, for Jaume Mumbru and Cali Sanmarti is some 60 miles ahead of their bow.

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