Setting out from Qingdao mid morning (UT) on Sunday 18th May, Gitana 13 benefited from some downwind conditions and a steady breeze throughout to make the island of Taiwan, despite a zone of high pressure across its route. Indeed, during their descent into the East China Sea, the sailors of Gitana Team had to round to the east of this pressure positioned under Shanghai. The obstacle was quickly brushed to one side by the crew of Gitana 13, guided as usual by their ‘mascot' router, Sylvain Mondon.

Lionel Lemonchois and his crew are likely to remain in Taiwan for a week prior to taking to the high seas once more, bound this time for Hong Kong.

The crew of Gitana 13 between Qingdao and Taipei
Lionel Lemonchois (Skipper / helmsman / watch leader) 
Ludovic Aglaor / Olivier Wroczynski / Nicolas Raynaud / Antoine Mermod / David Boileau / Léopold Lucet 

Gitana 13's records
Dalian – Qingdao: in 23 hours 50 minutes and 20 seconds
Yokohama – Dalian: in 3 days 20 hours 19 minutes 11 seconds (May 2008)
North Pacific Crossing (San Francisco – Yokohama): in 11 days 12 minutes 55 seconds (April 2008)
Route de l'Or (New York – San Francisco, via Cape Horn): in 43 days 3 minutes 18 seconds (February 2008)