Joyon breaks west

Solo round the worlder lines up for the Doldrums

Position at 0800: 15deg 53.92'N 20deg 28.32' W
Distance from start: 2263.7nm
Speed/course: 12.64 knots / 208°

Last night Francis Joyon, singlehanded on board his 90ft trimaran IDEC, broke away from the Africa coast and this morning is passing to the east of the Cape Verde islands as he lines up on the Doldrums. He said earlier in the week that he anticipates crossing the Doldrums at around 30degW, however over the last 24 hours he has developed a comms problem.

"I have not received any more winds charts since yesterday evening," he said yesterday. "This is due to a problem with the satellites which no longer covers the zone where I am currently in. If I refer back to the last forecasts I received yesterday, I undoubtedly could carry on my southerly course and not be obliged to head west to find the shortest passage to cross the Doldrums."

Despite the lack of weather information Joyon is still making extremely good progress and in the 25 hours up until 0800 this morning had covered 360 miles at an average speed of 14.4 knots down the course, although with following winds of around 20 knots he will be having to gybe.

After the Doldrums the big issue and a possible area where he will be able to make the biggest gains on this round the world trip will be the South Atlantic. If the St Helena high is in its normal spot (as it appears to be at present) then Joyon will be forced across to the Brazilian coast. If the situation is not normal then he may be able to cut as much as 500-1000 miles off his course by sailing the direct route to the Cape of Good Hope.