Past the Cape

Francis Joyon into the Indian Ocean

Position at 07:58: 38deg 23.16'S 19deg 39.04' E
Distance from start: 7535.11 miles
Speed/course: 17.34 knots /70°

This morning at 0430GMT, Francis Joyon and his 90ft trimaran IDEC passed to the south of the Cape of Good Hope, the first of the 'great Capes' the Frenchman will pass on his eastabout singlehanded circumnavigation of the planet.

Since setting sail from Brest on 22 November Joyon has had a blindingly fast voyage and has made the 7,500 mile passage to the Cape of Good Hope in just 19 days, 20 hours and 30 minutes of sea at an average speed of 17.34 knots.

Interestingly this puts Joyon more than 1,000 miles ahead of Olivier de Kersauson's fully crewed record breaking Jules Verne attempt 19 days into their voyage. Sport Elec took 21 days 18 hours to pass the Cape of Good Hope. Michel Desjoyeaux who currently holds the record for the fastest singlehanded non-stop circumnavigation only passed to the south of the Cape of Good Hope on day 29 of the Vendee Globe.

Currently Joyon is feeling the influence of a depression racing across the Southern Ocean at present to his southwest. Riding this weather system he has got at least two more days of his current rollercoaster ride. Ahead the weather situation is looking more complex with a large area of high pressure sitting over the Kerguelen Islands (ie directly on his route). This looks set to effectively stall the depression currently lying to Joyon's southeast forcing it south. But Joyon may be lucky and by the time he is approaching the Kerguelens the high pressure system may have moved out of the area.