Big breeze for Joyon

French skipper hangs on as 40 knot winds take him south

09:02 24 Nov
Lat: 36deg 44.32 Long: 10deg 44.32
Distance from start: 838.17nm
Speed and course: 17.78 knts at 180deg.

Brisk conditions but good progress for Francis Joyon the maxi-trimaran IDEC, who this morning at 1000 were passing the Straits of Gibraltar.

At the time the skipper was under reefed main sail and storm jib and making 19 knots in 35-40 knots of wind. Having not been out in such conditions in his new 90ft maxi trimaran before Joyon said in this morning's telephone conversation that he was taking it carefully. Fortunately the wind direction is favourable - from the north and tonight it is forecaast to drop marginally and back to the north west. "And that should allow me to hook into the northeasterly trade winds," says Joyon of his tactics. "It's perfect! That shoul get me down to the Doldrums without being becalmed. But I need to be vigialant over the next 24 hours."

Since starting on Saturday morning that he has so far managed just 4-5 hours of sleep. Joyon added that he was over the moon about the new rudder which is easy on the helm and enables the autopilot to steer with only a minimal amount of energy.

The only problem Joyon has encountered to date is a leak in the stern compartment where he has discover a "small pond" of 150lt of water. He believes the water is seeping in through deck fittings.