Giovanni Soldini est rentré à Lorient d’où il ne repartira pas...

Photo : G.Martin-Raget/Promovoile

Headwinds since the start. Rough nights and no rest in the day. The fleet is enduring very rough conditions, with a wind span from 20 knots to squalls up to 50 knots of wind, complicating the choice of sails. And it is not over yet. The strong winds will not let up in the next two days. The western or southern option has split the fleet, with a majority on the westerly option. The position reports show who is leading as regards the distance to finish, but in reality we will probably tomorrow see which option has paid off.

The two Brits, Mike Golding on Ecover and Ellen MacArthur on Kingfisher, are still lying in second and third in the IMOCA Imoca #IMOCA Class, 18 and 28 miles behind Sill. Kingfisher lost ground last night after staying too long on port tack. Third Brit, Miranda Merron on Un Univers de Services, is up in the fight in seventh position, despite a boat not designed for upwind. 71-year old Mike Birch from Canada is hanging in there on Tir Groupé - Montres Yema in eleventh place.

Australian Nick Moloney on Ashfield Healthcare is once again leading his class, since Bestaven (République Dominiciane) headed to shore to repair damage on his keel. Moloney is sorry for his great rival’s bad luck. "It is very sad, he is a great sailor and has a very good boat."

Sebastien Josse whose IMOCA Imoca #IMOCA monohull VMI dismasted just a couple hours after the start, has confirmed his abandon. He will not be able to repair the damaged mast.

The trimarans The boats in the 60’ multihull fleet are "holding back the reigns" and trying not to push too hard in order to keep the boat in one piece. At 11.30 today Loick Peyron on Fujifilm called in to the race head quarters - he had 50 knots of wind in the squalls ! Peyron was truly shocked to hear about his friend Joyon’s capsize. "You really have to be careful with these boats. It is not a game. It’s hell," said the popular French skipper.

Thomas Coville on Sodebo, leading the fleet off and on since yesterday afternoon, has chosen a westerly course, while Loick Peyrons Fujifilm (2^nd) has picked a different route, being the most southerly positioned boat in the fleet. Only two other boats in the trimaran fleet has followed Peyron’s southerly choice of route, Philippe Monnet, on Sopra Group (5th) and Karine Fauconnier on Sergio Tacchini (9th). Fauconnier has had a lot of problems the last 24 hours, fighting hard to keep it together all night long. She is back on track again with great motivation to conquer the hard conditions. Rexona Men, in 3rd position, has altered his westerly course and is heading south. At the 15.00 GMT positioning report Rexona Men was the fastest boat in the fleet, with 16 knots of speed. This older generation trimaran is the former Primagaz, winner of the two previous Route du Rhums, and is definitely giving the latest generation trimarans some strong competition. "I never knew my Rexona Men could be so vertical," said Yvan Bourgnon about the hairy conditions.

Jean Le Cam on Bonduelle restarts tomorrow morning from Camaret after an incredibly quick patching up of his severed bow after smashing into the overturned Groupama on Sunday night.

Belgacom is repairing the traveller in Port La Foret and will set off again tomorrow morning.

Giovanni Soldini on Tim confirmed abandon this afternoon. He needs at least three days to repair the cracks behind the cockpit, and does not want to restart that far behind the others.

At this time, 10 of the 18 mighty 60-foot trimarans are on the race track, 5 have abandoned.

Class 2 multihulls : Only five of the eight starting in this class are still in the race, with Crêpes Whaou ! leading in the west, 4th overall, and Archipel Guadeloupe second in this class is choosing a southerly option.

 Ellen MacArthur Kingfisher (3rd Open 60’ monohull) : ".. it has been a big night - went through the front and the wind was all over the place. Talked to weather routers a lot about whether to tack after front or not. …Three times through the front the wind went from 20 knots to 40 and once 45 knots. One minute you are wallowing around, frustrated to not have the right sail up, next you are on your side. It’s really tough. I have not really slept again, pretty knackered now. And annoyed that I’ve lost some miles to Bilou [Roland Jordain, Sill]. I don’t think I’m sailing as well as I could though. I stayed on port tack for too long."

 Loick Peyron Fujifilm (2^nd 60’ trimaran) on how to be careful on the 60-foot trimarans : "I am helming a lot and not relying too much on the autopilot. You have to constantly survey the wind and the waves. I am not sleeping and these conditions are giving me a headache."

 Miranda Merron Un Univers de Service (7th Open 60’ monohull) "I’m not on top form today. I lost my weather sensor. The halyards are also a bit damaged. I’ve had to drop the mainsail to see what’s what. Not getting the chance to rest much. I haven’t eaten properly since the start - just energy bars - there hasn’t been any time as I’ve been at the helm a lot. …The gas stove is working, luckily, for my Earl Grey tea".

 Nick Moloney Ashfield Healthcare (1st 50-foot monohull) comments on the hard conditions : "It is not good for any of the boats, these upwind conditions. The waves are very very big."