Slow boats to Cienfuegos

An update on lengthy conclusion to the Figaro's Trophee BPE tranatlantic race

Position at 0900GMT

Pos	Boat	DTF	DTL	VMG	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	Spd	Crs	Spd	Dist
							Instant		4hr aver		24hr run
1	CREDIT MARITIME-ZEROTWO	331.2	0.0	4.7	19 33.00' N	75 36.60' W	5.1	256	5.2	254.0	2.7	64.1
2	CERCLE VERT	347.8	16.6	6.5	19 32.46' N	75 18.96' W	6.7	303	5.7	277.0	3.0	71.7
3	BOSTIK	348.3	17.0	6.5	19 36.18' N	75 18.00' W	6.3	287	6.2	279.0	2.7	63.7
4	SKANDIA	352.7	21.4	4.9	19 31.35' N	75 13.90' W	5.2	255	3.2	248.0	2.9	69.9
5	ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM	353.2	22.0	6.8	19 43.20' N	75 12.24' W	6.9	280	6.5	272.0	3.2	77.7
6	BANQUE POPULAIRE	361.3	30.0	5.5	19 43.14' N	75 03.66' W	6.3	262	6.2	263.0	2.9	68.5
7	AQUARELLE.COM	361.6	30.4	4.7	19 43.44' N	75 03.24' W	6.9	226	6.1	261.0	3.0	72.1
8	COUTOT ROEHRIG	362.1	30.9	4.7	19 42.00' N	75 02.82' W	7.5	219	6.2	258.0	3.0	72.1
9	TOTAL	362.3	31.1	5.4	19 43.20' N	75 02.52' W	6.6	234	6.1	260.0	3.1	75.2
10	GEDIMAT	363.9	32.6	5.7	19 37.56' N	75 01.26' W	6.1	246	6.5	260.0	3.0	71.7
11	ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT	394.5	63.3	8.3	19 47.28' N	74 28.20' W	8.5	261	7.9	251.0	5.7	135.8
12	LITTLE BLACK SHARK	542.2	211.0	8.9	20 37.80' N	71 56.88' W	9.3	244	8.3	243.0	4.6	109.7

On the 24th day of racing in the Figaro's Trophee BPE singlehanded transatlantic race just 32.6 miles separate the first boat from the 10th. Over the last 24 hours Dominique Vittet on ATAO Audio System has joined in the fight for second place between Sam Davies on Skandia, Gildas Morvan on Cercle Vert and Charles Caudrelier on Bostik. Vittet is now less than a mile from Davies, sailing closer in to shore.

In the top five Sam Davies is up against Gildas Morvan, one of the class' most seasoned skippers and three former Solitaire du Figaro winners...

Conditions are still painfully light for the fleet under a scorching sun - "We will all arrive carbonised," said Dominique Vittet this morning. However the leaders have made 63-71 miles in the last 24 hours - a 50% improvement upon yesterday...

The wind radar satellite image of the area between Jamaica and Cuba indicates that there is slightly more breeze to the southwest of where the boats are at present - around 10-15 knots from the ESE - however the skippers are more likely to be making use of land/sea breezes

Sam Davies reports from on board Skandia...

Hello

I think I might melt if it gets any hotter! The thermometer registered 43°C today (in the sunshine) the one in the cabin was 36. I think I drank at least 5 litres of water / isostar today!

For me last night was the hardest night of the race. I was tired and stressed to see everyone behind catching up like that. It is so hard when you work hard and sail well to get ahead, then it is all for nothing as you get an unlucky break with the weather and everyone else catches up. Also there was little wind!

But the morning brought a better mood for me (even though I only managed to snatch 20 minutes sleep) and I realised that it is worse for others, when the boat next to me turned out to be Charles ( Bostik) who had been stuck in no wind under the point for 12 hours! We had a long chat on the VHF and he told me that the first thing that came into his head when he saw me was that he would kill for an English breakfast!! (I keep a stock of Heinz baked beans in Concarneau and Romain and I cook English breakfast occasionally as an English treat for friends!! Charles is a fan!)

Unfortunately I don't have beans on board as they are too heavy! Charles is dreaming of food as all he has left is freeze dried (no treats or snacks!)

I was happy to be with Charles, and just in front of us was Gildas [Morvan - Cercle Vert], so when the 2 knots of wind kicked in we went off together. That is good for me because I know that these two are some of the fastest boats in the fleet , and the two of them will be pushing each other, so if I manage to hang on to them I will be sailing fast. It was a case of hanging on but as night falls now, they are just ahead - in fact, it was a case of rich get richer today and Gildas got away from Charles and he got away from me.

But it was another long and hot day at the tiller in the scorching heat!

Luckily, now, a little more breeze has filled in and I can put the pilot on - hooray! I think I might be able to get some sleep at last (I know that I am lacking in sleep)

Only 382 nm to go! But we are only doing 4.5 knots over the ground. There is one knot of current against us. So we could still be out here for four days! We are all checking we have enough water to last. I have more than 20 litres, so I will be OK - even if I drink 5l /day! (its possible!)

Anyway, I need to go trim the sails, then it is dinner. Now it is the night it is cool enough to eat (29 deg in cabin, less outside) - spaghetti bolognaise tonight - my favourite!

A demain...

S x

Listen to the latest audio from Sam - here