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Aquitaine Innovations has been reaching average speeds of 13 knots in the steady 30 knot Westerlies sweeping across the North Atlantic over the last 24 hours. During the night, however, the third reefing penant broke, which forced Parlier to take a fourth reef in his main sail this morning. He has since repaired and put in the third reef again to find his boat speed at 10 knots again.

"I am behind a depression and should arrive with the next one. According to the weather files, I think I'll arrive on Friday afternoon. Now the sun's out, the clouds are scudding across the sky, it's still blowing steadily, but the temperature has fallen significantly, as I'm now wearing two layers of thermals, under my oilskins and boots. Smells of home are coming back too…" Parlier joked that as he had planned his rations to last him until Friday this week, if he is yet again delayed for any reason, "I'll be eating 100% seaweed!"

Didier Munduteguy (DDP - 60ème Sud) should sail under the 2,000 mile barrier today himself, still being pushed homewards by the 25 - 30 knot North Easterly Trade winds. "I'm making good progress to the North in this steady breeze. The sea's quite rough though and the boat gets a fair bashing, so I'm sailing under 2 reefs and the staysail."

Finally, the last skipper in the Vendée Globe fleet, Italian Pasquale de Gregorio (Wind), has not sent any news today of his conditions, however, he will be sailing under the 4,000 mile barrier today as he approaches the Equator on his 50 footer under jury rig at an average speed of 6 - 7 knots.