Negotating the South Atlantic

Deliberation for Francis Joyon as the weather throws up high pressure hurdle

Position at 05:58GMT: 49deg 11.60'S 53deg 17.64'W
Distance from start: 20270.89 miles
Speed/course: 15.13 knots /043°

Yesterday afternoon saw Francis Joyon and his 90ft trimaran IDEC passing the Falklands, leaving them to his west. The Frenchman is still making outstanding progress having sailed 330 miles between 05:58 this morning and 10:20 yesterday.

Joyon is still enjoying near perfect conditions - beam reaching in 15-20 knot westerlies - and looks set to do so for at least another 24 hours. However after this he will require some very careful routing.

At present a high pressure system is developing off the mouth of the River Plate between Argentian and Urugary and by tomorrow will have drifted east and established itself into an inconventient sausage shape right across Joyon's path. This is likely to have dissipated by the time Joyon arrives here but with the St Helena high further east than normal unless Joyon stays well east too he also faces being trapped in light winds off the South American coast as did de Kersauson last year.