From the retirement of Mike Golding to the worries of Marc Guillemot, Yann Elies, Jean-Baptiste Maisonneuve, Dee Caffari and even Loïck Peyron the leader of the fleet, we imagine that there is a strong temptation to ease off the pace. The finish isn’t far away and for a number of sailors it is out of the question to spoil their chances of qualification for the Vendee Globe as a trade off for glory in this race. As they await the SW'ly wind which should propel the fleet to the finish at high speed, each of the skippers are trying to spare their steeds, which have really been put through the mill in the powerful tradewinds which have battered the Atlantic.

One thing is already certain: between the potential speeds displayed by some, and the small technical issues observed aboard a number of boats, the winter is going to be busy and a number of shore crews will be impatient to see their skippers arrive safely in port.

Translation KJ