First damage

Inevitable breakages begin as boats endure big conditions off Portugal in Vendee Globe

Positions at 1900GMT

Pos	Name	DTL	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	Spd	Crs
					Instant		4 hour av
1	PRB	0.0	39 58.24' N	15 45.76' W	16.4	178	13.9	207.0
2	SILL ET VEOLIA	21.2	40 21.16' N	15 51.08' W	12.3	182	14.0	199.0
3	BONDUELLE	23.6	40 15.56' N	15 10.08' W	16.3	183	16.2	177.0
4	VMI	27.2	40 16.28' N	14 55.92' W	17.2	176	13.0	199.0
5	HUGO BOSS	27.4	40 16.00' N	14 53.52' W	18.4	246	15.9	238.0
6	ECOVER	35.5	40 31.36' N	15 27.64' W	15.3	182	13.0	211.0
7	VIRBAC-PAPREC	39.4	40 30.16' N	14 24.76' W	20.4	182	15.6	173.0
8	TEMENOS	43.9	40 36.36' N	15 09.28' W	17.0	172	13.2	217.0
9	ARCELOR DUNKERQUE	51.3	39 43.92' N	11 07.16' W	16.2	235	15.8	234.0
10	HELLOMOTO	67.2	40 43.88' N	13 51.56' W	14.5	176	13.0	195.0
11	UUDS	71.8	40 20.12' N	11 57.48' W	13.0	227	12.8	228.0
12	VM MATERIAUX	76.8	41 14.56' N	14 35.76' W	10.8	208	13.6	232.0
13	PRO-FORM	82.7	41 06.16' N	14 19.12' W	16.2	174	12.7	221.0
14	OCEAN PLANET	94.4	41 03.80' N	13 15.08' W	14.0	232	13.8	232.0
15	SKANDIA	95.9	41 26.12' N	14 49.36' W	14.7	176	12.4	194.0
16	ROXY	155.1	41 41.84' N	11 32.52' W	10.3	218	11.1	214.0
17	AKENA VERANDAS	159.2	41 56.00' N	12 10.08' W	3.4	127	10.6	228.0
18	MAX HAVELAAR BEST WESTERN	164.7	42 10.08' N	12 43.48' W	8.1	246	13.0	238.0
19	BROTHER	213.5	42 40.24' N	11 18.84' W	10.1	240	10.6	228.0
20	BENEFIC	219.4	43 01.68' N	12 00.80' W	11.2	240	11.2	241.0

At the 1500 GMT position report today Vincent Riou on PRB was stretching out his lead across the Atlantic. PRB has averaged 16.7 knots over the past four hours.

In four hours since the last report this morning Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss has leapt from fourth into second place, now just 19.9 miles behind the leader and Roland Jourdain's Sill et Véolia just 3 miles behind the British sailor.

“I’m getting into the rhythm, taking care going downwind," commented Jourdain. "I’ve had most of the sails up at some time, a little spinnaker yesterday, gennaker, genoa, two reefs, one reef etc... I haven’t had much chance to sail aboard her really but I’m really content."

At present three-quarters of the fleet are on a southwesterly heading getting the full benefit of the north northeasterlies. Just two have opted for the southern option down the Portuguese coast: Joé Seeten on Arcelor Dunkerque and Hervé Laurent on UUDS. Sooner or later they’re going to have to gybe to get back on course. It would seem that the headers is going to remain on the same tack for a while even though it’s taking them off course.

Bringing up the rear is Austrian, Norbert Sedlacek on Brother now 187 miles astern of PRB.

The first boat problems have come to light today. Raphael Dinelli's Akena Verandas is suffering a slight leak around the port daggerboard after hitting a tree trunk. At 0940 GMT on Sunday morning the Race Committee was informed about the presence of tree trunks on the race course and immediately warned competitors. Unfortunately at 1917 GMT on Monday Dinelli announced that he had collided with one of these. He is waiting for calmer conditions so as to dive under the boat to see the extent of the damage.

Meanwhile on UUDS Herve Laurent is concerned about his bowsprit. The martingale, the PBO strop between the end of the bowsprit and the bottom of the bow has gone slack. Laurent will have to retension this before he is able to use his larger downwind and reaching headsails.

"That’s why I am currrently sailing near the coast. I’m going to try and find a calm area where I can sort this out up forward. Otherwise, it would be much better to be offshore like the others," explained Laurent. In the strong conditions UUDS also suffered a full on mast in water knock down that lasted for 15 minutes while under solent and single-reefed mainsail.

The 60 footers have passed the gateway into the Atlantic and the playing field is now much more open. The tactical options are beginning to take effect now and the angles of descent of the various protagonists will have to be kept an eye on. Arcelor Dunkerque and UUDS have already taken a direct southerly option from the Spanish headland with Jean Le Cam’s Bonduelle passing 135 miles from the coast compared to Seeten’s 18 miles. Interestingly Nick Moloney (Skandia) is still quite a bit off the pace but has taken an even wilder westerly option behind Bonduelle…As regards the British boats Hugo Boss and Ecover are now right in the middle of the leading pack, neither on an extreme option, Hellomoto on the same course further behind them.

On board VMI gave his views: “I’m helming a fair bit and I was in contact with Alex (Thomson) and Mike (Golding) yesterday. Alex is certainly pushing hard! You couldn’t wish for better conditions. I haven’t had any hot food yet - just five or six fruit and a yoghurt. They told me that round the world sailing was all done with the automatic pilot but that’s not true - I’m making 22 knots boat speed in 25-30 knots wind! ”