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Nerve racking times for Jean-Luc van den Heede as he approaches France

Day 121
Position at 1300: 43°50 N / 11°42 W
Wind 20 knots from E. Moderate sea.
Temperatures: day 17°C / night 12°C / sea 12° C
Distance covered in the last 24 hours: 245 miles.
To the finish: 390 miles.
Lead over Monnet 29 days and 5 hours.

Hello

Had a bit of a stir in the night. The radar alarm woke me up. I jumped out of bed, but couldn't see anything. I went back down and had a look at the screen. There was no doubt about it. There was definitely something out there three miles away. Try as I might to see what was going on, even with the binoculars, which enable me to see fairly well at night, I still couldn't see a thing. It was clear there was something ahead of me, and it didn't seem to be moving. I drifted off a little and could just make out in the light of the full moon about 100 metres away on the windward side of Adrien a crab pot marker or net marker buoy that must have broken loose (as out here the sea is around 4000 metres deep). On top there was a little radar reflector. What a relief! But even if I had hit it, it wouldn't have done any damage to my aluminium hull.

Indeed, my main worry at the moment is avoiding any possible accidents. Apart from that, life on board has changed somewhat. I don't have any free time left, as alongside the usual jobs, I have a lot of work to do with the media!

My arrival off Ushant looks more and more likely to be on Tuesday morning. However, the arrival in Les Sables d'Olonne planned for Thursday at 5 p.m. is definitely on. And I'll be very happy to see everyone, who can be there to welcome me home!

See you tomorrow,

JL VDH