Past Rio

Banque Populaire now to the west of Groupama 3's track on her Jules Verne Trophy bid

Chart above courtesy of Expedition/Tasman Bay Navigation Systems and Predi

They really don't want to turn left do they? Banque Populaire continues to tear down the South Atlantic and is currently 360 miles ESE of Rio de Janiero having covered a useful 717 miles in the last 24 hours and now a comfortable 281 miles ahead of Jules Verne Trophy record holder Groupama 3's pace.

Last night the Loick Peyron-skippered 40m trimaran crossed the track of Groupama 3. The reason for the westerly detour is that at present there is a depression forming in the mouth of the River Plate, between Argentina and Uruguay, and this is causing the wind strength slowly to build on its easterly side. So the further south Banque Populaire sails today the more the wind will back into the north and one imagines that they will take this shift and get a bit more east into their heading.

Over the next 48 hours this depression eases slowly east, out into the south Atlantic, the breeze continuing to build and it looks like Banque Populaire will be enjoying a 'lively' day over Thursday night and into Friday as she flies down the band of 30 knots northerlies/NEerlies between the depression and the high. The crew will no doubt be crossing themselves at this point as this is where the maxi tri suffered a collision forcing her to quit her last round the world record attempt.