Rollercoaster ride

Francis Joyon sinks his teeth into the Southern Ocean

Position at 07:58GMT: 35deg 29.68'S 3deg 22.16'E
Distance from start: 6724.07 miles
Speed and course: 17.72 knots /107°

Another big day for Francis Joyon who in the 24 hours leading up to this morning's position report had covered 414 miles, his speeds constantly hovering around the 16-19 knots mark.

At present Joyon is sailing in the southwesterly winds associated with a giant Southern Ocean depression centred almost 1,000 miles away to his south. The next 24 hours should see more of the same as the low pressure outpaces him. The low is expected to be centred at around 47degS 19degE tomorrow morning and will then slowly move south. Conditions look to be perfect for Joyon who will then be able to duck south deeper into the Southern Ocean, reducing the miles he has to sail and avoid the treacherous banks to the south of South Africa.