Slow going

But Joyon is still making miles to get out of the high pressure

Position at 10:15: 26deg 31.00N 32deg 35.00W
Distance sailed: 25,222.55 nautical miles
Speed/course: 5.37 knots /020 °

A slow day for Francis Joyon yesterday. In the last 24 hours the Frenchman covered just 171 miles, although this is something of a miracle given the light conditions he has been experiencing. Joyon is currently sailing on a more northerly course than he needs to in order to get out of the grip of the giant band of high pressure that is currently spanning the Atlantic between Florida and north Afirca. The further north Joyon sails the quicker he will get away from this high pressure system and into the stronger winds of the large depressions running across the Atlantic which will provide him with strong running conditions all the way to the finish.

In stark contrast to the conditions Joyon is currently experiencing the forecast for the weekend will see hiim battling with gale force winds. Fortunately this will be from the west or the southwest but depending upon his progress he could well see winds exceeding 50 knots.

The light conditions he has been experiencing over the last 48 hours are likely to see his ETA in Brest pushed back until Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

The leak in IDEC's port float and the weight of water still in there has been creating some problems for Joyon as he has been trying to gybe. "I set the electric pump going and all of a sudden the little problem is manageable again," he said. "There is no reason why the hole should get bigger. I’m keeping an eye on it anyway but there’s nothing really to worry about.”