Rhythm of the Race Double digits speeds for the top 13 boats.  Fastest is Aquitaine Innovations at 16.2 knots.

Standings table 

Image shows position of leaders.  Does not show the breakaway twosome farther inshore.

Courtesy of:

Top 3

1.  Aquitiane Innovations  19:3 North 20:4 West
2.  PRB Michel Desjoyeaux 20:2 North 21:3 West + 18 miles 
3.  Active Wear Marc Thiercelin 20.5North 21:0 West +68

Fleet round up section 

As the leaders all hold a SW course, Catherine Chabaud has Whirlpool on a different routing option.  She is several degrees of longitude from most of the leaders.  Her course is South by West at 196 degrees.  Also staying closer to Africa is Dominque Wavre.  In their area of the course they have a bit different wind from the NE.  

Farther back Didier Munduteguy DDP 60°Sud  Pasquale de Gregorio Wind & Simone Bianchetti Aquarelle.com are approaching the gateway at the Canaries.

Mike Golding hopes to sail Group 4 back onto the sea with a new mast.  Golding has a new plan, "The record attempt is now the way I shall motivate myself for the race."   He hopes to depart on the Friday evening tide.

Skipper Communications  

Richard Tolkein This TIme - Argos Soditic "I’ve made this decision to get further West for the descent South and we’ll see if my position improves later. I don’t want to get too far in to the African coast, watching the others ahead is helpful."

Josh Hall EBP-Gartmore "Everything is going just perfectly, there’s 25-30 knots from East, Northeast, great surfing - I am under main sail and gennaker, the boat’s planing at 23 knots!"

Pasquale de Gregorio Wind "As for me I am going to put on a T-shirt soon as it’s starting to heat up!"

Thomas Coville Sobedo "Since the Canaries, what margin we can gain to the West is like gold! When becalmed, or when the wind is directly East, it becomes impossible to get West."

Patrice Carpentier VM Matériaux "Bad day yesterday. I had to gybe twice in 2 hours."

Bernard Gallay Voila Fr. "Very tired, your skipper of Voila.fr hasn’t slept all night."

Ellen Macarthur Kingfisher "Today has been a sleigh ride... Non stop surfing, averag ing speeds of over 15 knots, and surfs (even on the autopilot) at over 22!!"

Michel Desjoyeaux PRB ""I’m not concerned about the Doldrums as these boats can get through the light airs fairly quickly."

Roland Jourdain Sill "Ate my first flying fish last night with lemon juice..excellent!"

Current weather conditions NE by E winds for the boats to the W, NE winds for the pair closer to Africa.

Weather Forecast Strong winds will help continue the descent south.

What does it all mean

Favorable weather and a stout pace brought the leader to the Canaries a day ahead of the 1996 race.  The leaders show no sign of backing off.  Two of that group have split off.  They read the weather different, or perhaps fell they speed is not enough and are taking chances already.  In 4-5 days when the leaders are in the Doldrums we will see how their risk pays.