Our proximity to the Equator is providing some cloud cover and relief from the blazing heat of the last few days. It is also providing wildly shifting winds of variable windstrength. Over night the leaders got parked in no wind which enabled us to recover some previous losses but this is no time to celebrate as we have to pass through the same patch water soon and it won’t be long before the leaders will be out of the Doldrums and into the trade winds.

The last few days have been mysterious as we seem to be plagued by lighter winds than our rivals – it seems hardly possible that this can be true on every position report – especially as the fleet is all in a line - but that is what has happened. Groupama have been chipping away at our lead over them by bringing in these stronger winds and if we do not stop the losses soon they will be in sight. Everything onboard is running smoothly in what have been very easy conditions thus far. Everyone is looking forward to getting into the trade winds today (hopefully) and knocking down the miles to Miami.