The luck of Job

Joyon continues up the Brazilian coast in favourable winds

Position at 05:58: 23deg 47.76'S 39deg 51.68'W
Distance from start: 21985.96 nautical miles
Speed/course: 16.72 knots / 022°

The Gods are smiling on Francis Joyon at the moment. His 90ft trimaran is still forging a path north northeast up the Brazilian coast and this morning is just off Rio de Janeiro.

Remarkably Joyon is currently sailing down a narrow corridor of favourable winds between the coast and an off lying depression that is generating reasonably brisk southerlies. Usually on record attempts by this stage you would be becalmed or sailing into the teeth of the prevailing northeasterlies. Instead Joyon has racked up yet another 427 miles in the last 24 hours. What a guy!

According to our cursory glace at the weather situation, the favourable winds look to not only stay with him for another 24 hours but to intensify too. This may be enough to get the French solo sailor up to Salvador. At present the wind looks like it will stall for Joyon tomorrow afternoon after which he will be forced to take on the prevailing northeasterlies.

Yesterday Joyon reports that he was tucking into his reserve supplies of water as his desalinator had broken.