Into the Pacific

Francis Joyon dives south to avoid New Zealand

Sunday saw Francis Joyon passing the south of New Zealand. Rather than just cut the corner Joyon headed deep south to avoid the potential bad seas around the Campbell Plateau. Yesterday morning she was down to almost 53degS passing Auckland Islands and Campbell Island to the south of New Zealand.

"They are incredibly beautiful - there are thousands of birds," recounted Joyon. "Now I will continue down towards the 53°, because I am trying to avoid the areas of no wind in the two days between now and the next depression arriving."

Another blistering run - over 25 hours up until 0840 Sunday morning Joyon covered 500 miles. Joyon still has some way to go - at present the outright singlehanded 24 hour run for multihulls stands at 540 miles.

The last 24 hours have been Joyon level out from his descent into the Southern Ocean, although a complex forecast over the next 24 hours is likely to push him south once again.