Which way to go?

Trophee BPE fleet approach the Turks & Caicos islands as Sam Davies recounts gybing in her birthday suit

Positions at 0900GMT

Pos	Boat	DTF	DTL	VMG	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	Spd	Crs	Spd	Dist
							Instant		4hr aver		24hr run
1	CREDIT MARITIME-ZEROTWO	661.5	0.0	7.9	21 59.70' N	70 24.96' W	9.6	246	7.8	253.0	5.9	141.6
2	BOSTIK	676.3	14.8	7.6	21 48.42' N	69 52.80' W	8.1	259	7.1	246.0	6.2	148.3
3	SKANDIA	691.8	30.3	6.7	21 43.68' N	69 31.44' W	6.7	239	6.4	243.0	6.4	153.9
4	CERCLE VERT	702.8	41.3	6.1	21 58.80' N	69 26.28' W	6.5	262	6.6	247.0	7.9	188.9
5	BANQUE POPULAIRE	741.4	79.9	5.6	22 04.74' N	68 43.02' W	5.3	227	7.2	242.0	8.0	191.7
6	ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM	752.6	91.1	7.1	22 06.78' N	68 30.78' W	7.3	231	7.8	264.0	8.8	212.2
7	GEDIMAT	754.0	92.5	6.4	22 22.02' N	68 36.96' W	6.5	238	6.9	241.0	7.8	187.7
8	COUTOT ROEHRIG	759.7	98.2	8.0	22 33.84' N	68 22.14' W	8.6	234	8.1	220.0	7.6	182.9
9	AQUARELLE.COM	764.2	102.7	8.9	22 28.38' N	68 28.14' W	10.2	214	8.5	222.0	8.1	193.3
10	TOTAL	785.6	124.1	8.4	22 28.14' N	68 02.04' W	8.5	232	7.8	236.0	8.0	192.5
11	ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT	846.0	184.5	5.4	22 59.22' N	67 05.58' W	5.2	232	7.0	221.0	8.2	198.0
12	LITTLE BLACK SHARK	975.0	313.5	9.3	24 01.14' N	65 02.04' W	9.2	243	10.0	245.0	9.5	226.8

Over the last 24 hours there has been a considerable concertinaing inwards among the Figaro class' singlehanded Trophee BPE fleet as the wind has gone light. From being 21 and 38 miles behind yesterday second and third placed Charles Caudrelier and Skandia's Sam Davies are now 15 and 30 miles off race leader Eric Drouglazet on Credit Maritime-ZeroTwo.

However the biggest gains have been made by Gildas Morvan on Cercle Vert down from 87 miles from Drouglazet yesterday to just 41 this morning and impressively Dominique Vittet on Atao Audio System, who contrary to our prediction yesterday of him being becalmed has closed down the leader from 160 miles yesterday to 91 this morning, rising to sixth place as a result.

The boats are still sailing downwind in a light to moderate ENEerly flow but this is set to get really light once they are through the passage between Cuba and Haiti and sailing towards the finish at Ceinfuegos, roughly two thirds of the way along the south side of Cuba (lengthwise Cuba is about the same size at the UK).



Sam Davies writes from on board...

Hello

Today has been the first day where I have been wondering which way to go! As we approach the Turks passage, we are running downwind and I have been gybing with the windshifts since last night. It is really difficult to tell which shift is going to last, and which shift is just for five minutes. So I have been watching the wind and attempting to keep Skandia on the favoured gybe.

Another first for this race - the wind has been light today! I think I have made a few miles up on Bostik, but I know also the others behind are making big gains on us three, as the closer we get, the less wind there is.... It is frustrating for the leaders, but it will make for good racing all the way to Cuba!

I did my horrible job with the cheese today. (And yes, I did eat a bit - right from the middle of each cheese!) and jettisoned it, then double-wrapped the cling film and ziplock it was in, in two more ziplocks and into the rubbish bin! POOH! It really was ripe. I couldn't get rid of the smell, so in the end I had to have a "shower"!

But, due to the law of Sod, in the middle of my shower, along comes the next windshift, and it's a big one - I can't wait, I have to gybe. So, naked (apart from my harness), dripping wet, with shower apparatus in the cockpit, I gybe Skandia! (Must have been a funny sight!). Can a girl not have any peace for five minutes? Once settled on the good gybe with sails perfectly trimmed, I managed to get my rinse, and now I feel (and smell) great! I even put on my new shorts (bought for 5 Aus$ in Geelong (you will see why!) and a clean Musto dry-fit shirt to keep the sun out!

Now, as my pilot does an outstanding job of steering, I am studying all my notes on the approach to Cuba and light wind/sea breeze sailing, from the lessons we had at Finistere Course au Large. I have begun to make notes for myself, so that I can get the best possible route through the islands, and if things get tough, and I am tired, I will have my notes already prepared and hopefully it will be easier to understand.

Next time I write, I will no longer be in the Atlantic, but entering the Caribbean! Wow - I can't believe I have sailed all that way already!