Doldrums day

Banque Populaire V on course for new record to the Equator

Image above courtesy of Expedition Navigation Systems and PredictWind.

Banque Populaire V has enjoyed a fast night soaring south through the Trades, her speed hovering at around 30 knots throughout the small hours, although as she approaches the Doldrums this is petering out, her speed average over the last four hours has dropped to 18.6 knots, her advantage over 'virtual Groupama 3' now back down to 173 miles.

The short term goal remains crossing the Equator, which at the 1000 sched was still 237 miles away. Breaking Groupama 3's record of five days 15 hours and 23 minutes to the Equator still looks achievable but this morning the 40m trimaran is in the thick of the Doldrums belt that at present is located around 2°N.

Yesterday skipper Pascal Bidégorry reported: "Last night was very pleasant because there was more wind. On average with the warming temperature, the trade winds tend to drop a little after midday and as night falls, but after that it is refreshed a little, and reactivates. But generally it is more pleasant; we are going more quickly. Moments ago when in 15 knots of wind, we were making 30 knots. We knew we wouldn't make up any time today - we knew before leaving that the trade winds would become very weak."