The highly random conditions encountered by Gitana 11 in the doldrums are at least not preventing the progression of the boat which, despite very irregular winds, is managing to maintain decent averages. On board, vigilance is the order of the day, as this highly distinct area generates an alternation of very strong squalls and zones where the wind is practically nonexistent. The crew has to manage these situations, the main difficulty of which is adjusting the boat's sails to take advantage of the slightest breeze without then being caught unawares! Lionel Lemonchois and Yann Guichard are currently on a more easterly path than Banque Populaire and hoping to line up a more sustained reaching leg. With Gitana 11's strength being perfectly suited to this pace, the crew seems confident in their current position, but they still have to emerge in optimum conditions from a doldrums zone which is proving to be large and unstable.
On board Gitana Eighty, Loïck Peyron and Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant are champing at the bit. “I'm going to become 12-knot world champion… it really is a snail's pace race!” mused Loïck Peyron this morning. The monohull emblazoned with the Rothschild Group's colours is currently sailing off the African coast amid winds of 8 to 12 knots, and this looks likely to be the case for at least two days yet! Last night, the crew gybed to adopt a more westerly course and are now heading as far as possible south while awaiting a change of wind within the next few hours. Loïck Peyron confesses to be keeping one eye on the westerly option taken by “King Jean”, Jean Le Cam on VM Matériaux, while Michel Desjoyeaux seems to be gradually adjusting his course, his drive to the east having so far failed to bear fruit.
ORMA Ranking at 12pm - 5 registered :
Rank Latitude Longitude Speed Cap Dist. But Dist. 1st
1- Groupama 1 18.13' N 28 19.89' W 21.4 212 1059.2 0.0
2- Gitana 11 4 55.06' N 24 14.61' W 22.1 201 1377.9 318.6
3- Banque Populaire 6 27.32' N 25 36.52' W 13.2 183 1407.8 348.6
4- Sopra 9 05.98' N 24 30.66' W 11.7 190 1577.5 518.3
5- Brossard 9 31.64' N 23 51.32' W 15.7 186 1619.4 560.2
IMOCA Ranking at 12pm - 17 registered :
Rank Latitude Longitude Speed Cap Dist. But Dist. 1st
1- Ecover III 17 44.80' N 20 44.48' W 13.0 190 2137.4 0.0
2- Safran 17 51.57' N 20 02.02' W 12.2 176 2163.2 25.8
3- Groupe Bel 17 24.81' N 18 57.36' W 10.9 164 2172.1 34.7
4- Gitana Eighty 17 40.43' N 19 09.08' W 11.1 164 2179.4 42.1
5- VM Matériaux 19 26.01' N 22 03.64' W 9.3 196 2193.3 55.9