Approaching the Falklands

French president kisses Jean-Luc van den Heede

Day 30. Position at 1300: 48°45 S / 61°00 W
Wind 18 knots from NW, sea slight.
Temperatures: day 15°C/ night 9°C/ sea 8°C
Distance covered in the last 24 hours 222 miles.
To Cape Horn 503 miles.
Lead over P. Monnet 5 days and 5 hours (37deg 22S 47deg 4W)

Hello

The two video links with the Prime Minister (who bid farewell to me by offering me a kiss on the cheek!) and Celerant Consulting both went well, and I’d like to thank the many yachtsmen, who came and spoke to me and asked me questions. I really find it extraordinary to be able to appear live at the Boat Show on a screen, while I’m aboard Adrien in the middle of the ocean. What a lot of progress has been made in the area of satellites in just a few years.

I must also thank Geolink, Nocturne and especially Simrad. Without Jean Marc from Simrad, who worked night and day before I set sail to repair my B standard set (the large sphere on Adrien’s stern), this important event could not have taken place.

On board, everything is going well. The weather is fairly clement for this area, and the forecasts are extremely encouraging for my passage through the Lemaire Straits (Tuesday) and around Cape Horn (Wednesday). I’m glad Adrien will be entering the Pacific in the best of shape and more than five days ahead of the record.

Until tomorrow,

JL VDH

A weekend with Igor, Ariane Tardieu’s black baby wolf.