Felipe Cubillos (skipper Desafio Cabo de Hornos): “We will we gain some more miles soon. I think the weather will be the same, but increase a little bit. We want to be in the top five boats by the Azores, that’s our prediction. Then pass all the other boats in the second part of the race! We had a problem yesterday that the engine didn’t start and the batteries weren’t working, which was quite complicated. Some wires had become disconnected with all the movement in the boat. We’re not electrical experts, but we played around with the wires and – magically – it started working again. We also had to drop the main this morning because four of the cars were destroyed. Probably one and a half hours without main. Not a big problem. Everything is OK now, no big problems. Everything is dry and we’ve eaten well.”

Weather forecast
over race area of Solidaire Chocolat 2009


General synopsis by October 23, 2009 at 00h
Low 984 hPa 50N and 33W moving northeast and filling. 
Low 1003 hPa 40N and 31W, moving northeast and deepening, expected 998 hPa 43N and 24W by 23/12utc, then 988 hPa 50N and 16W by 24/00utc, then moving Northeast.
New low expected  983 hPa 45N47W by 24/00utc, moving east and deepening, expected 976 hPa 46N and 37W by 25/00utc.   
High 1020 hPa 34N and 14W moving Northeast, expected 38N and 12W by 24/00utc, then with little move. Associated trough extending Southwestwards.

Weather forecast from October 23, 2009 at 9UTC to October 25, 2009 at 00UTC
IROISE, YEU
Southwest 18/23kt, increasing 20/25kt until 24/12utc, then veering West 10/25kt. Sea moderate or rough. Rain or showers.
 
East of CHARCOT
Southwest 18/23kt increasing 25/30kt gusts 50kt until 24/00utc, veering West 5/10kt until 24/12utc, then becoming variable. Sea moderate or rough. Rain ou showers.
 
West of CHARCOT
Southwest 30/35kt gusts 55kt veering Westerly 18/23kt gusts 40kt until 24/00utc, veering Westerly 7/12kt until 24/12utc, and becoming variable in south, then backing South 10/20kt from south to north. Sea rough in Westerly swell. Rain or squalls.
 
East of ALTAIR
Westerly 25/30kt gusts 45kt backing Southwest 10/15kt between 24/00utc and 24/12utc, then Southerly 20/30kt gusts 40kt. Sea rough in Westerly swell. Showers or squalls.
 
PORTO,
Southwesterly 13/18kt decreasing 10/15kt at end. Sea moderate. Showers.
 
SAO VICENTE
In northwest, Southwesterly 5/10kt becoming variable 3/8kt between 24/12utc and 25/00utc. In southeast, East or Northeast 5/10kt backing North or Northeast 10/15kt. Sea moderate, locally rough at first.
 
JOSEPHINE
Southwest 15/20kt, locally 25/30kt gusts 50kt in northwest, decreasing 18/23kt gusts 35kt until 24/00utc, then 13/18kt until 24/12utc, and becoming locally variable 3/8kt in far northwest. Sea moderate, localy rough in northwest, decreasing. Showers ou squalls.
 
East of ACORES
Southwest 25/30kt gusts 50kt decreasing 10/15kt until 24/03utc, and veering locally Northerly in north, becoming variable 3/8kt until 24/12utc, then becoming South or Southwest 13/18kt. Sea moderate or rough decreasing. Showers or squalls locally thundery.
 
West of ACORES
Northwest 15/20kt backing Westerly 10/15kt until 24/00utc, then Southwest 25/35kt gusts 50kt from south to north. Sea rough becoming rough or very rough. Showers or squalls locally thundery.
 
CASABLANCA, AGADIR
Northeasterly 13/18kt. Sea rough in Westerly swell, decreasing. 
 
MADEIRA
In southeast, East or Northeast 5/10kt, locally 10/15kt in far southest. In northwest, South or Southwest 5/10kt, locally 10/15kt in far northwest. Sea moderate, locally rough at first.
 
East of IRVING
Southwest 18/23kt decreasing 10/15kt until 24/00utc. Sea moderate. Thundersqualls.
 
West of IRVING
Northerly 8/13k. Sea becoming variable 5/10kt le 24 entre 00h and 12h tu, then becoming West or Southwest 15/20kt. Sea moderate or rough decreasing. Thundersqualls.
 
Further outlook for next 24 hours
Strong wind warning (> 33 kt) : Southwesterly 30/35kt over ALTAIR, veering Westerly 35/40kt gusts 60kt in west.
Westerly 30/35kt in west of ACORES.

Tropical activity
None

on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 09? UTC
Anne Couzinier

Météo-France

The Spanish duo of Gonzalo Botin and Javier de la Plaza are heading Tales towards Lisbon to make autopilot repairs

Weather forecast
over race area of Solidaire Chocolat 2009


General synopsis by October 22, 2009 at 00h
Low 980 hPa just Southwest Ireland moving northwest and filling.
Low 986 hPa 48N and 40W, moving northeast, expected 983 hPa 50N and 33W by 23/00h utc, then 979 hPa 52N and 31W by 24/00h utc. Associated trough extending southwest, with deepening low, expected 1003 hPa 30N and 31W by 23/00h utc, moving northwest, expected 1000 hPa 47N and 20W by 23/12h utc, then 992 hPa 51N and 19W by 24/00h utc. 
High 1018 hPa 30N and 27W moving Nord-east and building, expected 1024 hPa over Spain by 24/00h utc. Assocated ridge extending southeast.

Weather forecast from October 22, 2009 at 9UTC to October 24, 2009 at 00UTC
FINISTERRE
West 13/18kt backing Southwest 18/23kt gusts 35kt until 23/00h utc, and then increasing 20/25kt gusts 40kt. Sea rough or very rough in Northwest swell decreasing. Rain ou showers.
 
PORTO,
Northwesterly 13/18kt backing Southwest 10/15kt until 23/00h utc, then increasing 15/20kt in northwest. Sea rough or very rough in Northwest swell decreasing. Rain ou showers.
 
SAO VICENTE
Northwesterly 13/18kt backing Southwest 8/13 in northwest until 23/06h utc, and veering Northeast 5/10 in southeast. Sea rough or very rough in Northwest swell decreasing. Rain ou showers.
 
East of CHARCOT
Westerly 13/18kt backing Southwest 18/23kt gusts 35kt until 23/00h utc, and increasing 23/28 kt gusts 45kt between 23/12h utc and 24/00h utc. Sea rough or very rough in Northwest swell decreasing. Rain ou showers.
 
West of CHARCOT
Southwest 15/20kt gusts 35kt increasing 20/25kt gusts 40kt until 23/00h utc, backing South or Southwest 30/35kt gusts 50kt until 23/15h utc, then veering Westerly 15/20kt gusts 35kt. Sea rough. Rain ou squalls.
 
JOSEPHINE
West or Southwest 10/15kt, but locally Northwest in east, backing Southwest 13/18kt until 23/12h utc, locally 23/28kt gusts 45kt in northwest, then decreasing 15/20kt in northwest. Sea rough or very rough in Northwest swell decreasing. Rain ou showers.
 
East of ACORES
Southwest 15/20kt increasing 25/30kt gusts 45 kt between 23/00 and 23/12h utc, then veering North or Northwest 10/15kt from west, locally Southwest 13/18kt in southeast. Sea moderate or rough. Rain ou squalls.
 
West of ACORES
Southwest 20/25kt veering Northwesterly 18/23kt from west until 23/12h utc, then backing Westerly 5/10kt. Sea moderate or rough. Thundersqualls.
 
MADEIRA
Variable clockwise 5/10kt, locally South or Southwest in northwest, becoming Northeast 10/15kt in southeast until 23/00h utc, then increasing 13/18kt everywhere. Sea rough in Northwest swell, decreasing.
 
East of IRVING
South or Southwest 10/15 kt increasing 15/20kt until 23/12h utc, temporarily 20/25kt gusts 35kt in north. Sea moderate or rough decreasing. Rain or squalls at end.
 
IROISE, YEU :
West or Southwest 10/15kt. Sea rough. 
 
ROCHEBONNE :
West or Northwest 10/20kt, locally 20/25kt in southwest, backing West or Southwest at end. Sea rough.
 
PAZENN :
Northwest 20/25kt backing Southwest overnight, and increasing 25/30kt in south at end. Rafales. Sea rough or very rough. 

Further outlook for next 24 hours
Strong wind warning (> 33 kt) : Southwesterly 30/35kt in west ACORES.

Tropical activity
None

on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 07? UTC
Anne Couzinier

Météo-France

"Everything is fine on board Plan, Les enfants changeront le monde ! The boat’s been slamming about for three days now and it rained all day today : tropical rain in terms of intensity but Nordic rain for its temperature! I’d signed up for downwind sailing south, not upwind boat-breaking seas in the cold! Message for Jacques Fournier : I want my Class 40 subs back ! When I think about how the Minis were under spinnaker down to Madeira. It’s not fair! There’s quite a list of small things here and there, but nothing serious in itself. Latest event on board is the active echo sounder antenna we installed at great expense just before the start has disappeared, no doubt pulled off by the sea. I guess that’s not the sort of thing which is covered by the guarantee! That’s all for today , except to say that sea sickness, which was starting to diminish, is coming back with a vengeance! "

Extract from log of Erik Nigon on Axa Atout Coeur pour Aides.
"We just haven’t found time to breathe since Monday evening. One squall after another since yesterday and not nice ones at that as we’ve had to lower the main 67 or 8 times already. It’s off again with 30 knots and it’s gonna get worse tonight. We’re sick of this heading. There’s every chance that we’ll head south tonight in spite of the fact that we really ought to continue upwind and then steer with the shift NW to SW over to the Azores. Taking the tourist route via the Canaries is a big option as it adds 300 miles to our course and we’re not cure that there’s an awful lot of wind east of Madeira but that’s holiday for you !
And then who knows – we might not be alone ...
As for minor details, we’ve still got problems with the ballast and the aerial is not going to get back into position on its own. I’ll be up the mast as soon as things calm down a bit. (I’m not far off dreaming about that, me, who cannot normally stand calm weather !)   
Winds have been appalling, shifting from 4 to 40 knots in the squalls with a swell of 6-8 m, with wind holes between two waves.  
At the moment,  Pacpac (alias Marc Jouany) is at the helm while I’m down below bent double as I have fallen backwards on the same ribs I hurt last year. I have to avoid coughing and laughing for 10 days or so if it’s the same thing again. My notes will be longer when we’re no longer in survival mode. Time to rest now. Thanks for all the messages and comments. We love the compilation of the day. Works wonders on the morale !"

Pascal Doin and co-skipper Laurent Mermod have announced they are retiring from the race. Autopilot problems have forced this hard decision and PHR is currently heading for Quiberon

Yves Ecarlat (Vale Inco-Nouvelle Caledonie): "Our main is detroyed between the second and third reef. Without a proper repair, we had to race to La Coruña with just staysail and three reefs…not so bad when there were gusts of 40 knots! We have got the whole repair underway. A vehicle was ready and to take the mainsail to the sailmakers and as soon as it dried out, work began.  We hope to be back at sea on Wednesday night, but this pit stop might cost us 24-30 hours."

Paul Worswick (co-skipper Keysource): “We are OK on board. Been pretty horrrible again the last 24 hours and niether of us feel great, but I guess we're not alone there! Jobs list is getting longer, but it has been so rough that we have put-off tackling the electronics issues until we get to calmer weather. We have been using our back-up pilot since Monday, but only has standard compass and NMEA network is down, so we have no instruments. Been sailing her on boat speed for now and manually plotting our position on Deckman. Hope we can get this working in the coming days. We miss the wind info…that’s for sure! Today we are focusing on getting some rest and food and keeping rolling and hopefully staying in touch with the main body of the fleet. So, basically: a very tired, old and wet West and Worswick.... with no wind which is most unusual…”

Felipe Cubillos (Desafio Cabo de Hornos): "Winds oscillate between the 10 wind knots and 45, so the choice of sails is complicated. As ‘Murphy’s Law’ is king in sailing, if we fly the storm jib with three reefs in the main, the breeze drops to 10 knots. If we have full main and Solent, the wind shoots up to 45 knots! We know that this hell will only last for the next 24 hours and that all the other boats are in the same conditions. Our wind instruments have failed since a knock-down in 35 knots. It’s hard to describe the chaos of a broach in the middle of the night. As we were trying to sort things out, I banged my head and – according to Daniel – I  started to bleed. It doesn’t hurt too much and there isn’t much blood. With five boats already retired from the race, our bright red boat is in the thick of the fight and Daniel is shaping up very well in his first ocean crossing!"