For the Vendée Globe solo skipper stress and fatigue in the south Indian Ocean is most usually brought on by the normally unrelenting big winds and unruly, disorganised seas
But for the top eight skippers, who will count off their 28th day at sea tomorrow, it has been the recent intensity of the competition and the need follow a strong strategic option to deal with a zone of very light winds which has played much harder on mind and bodies over recent days, than the pressure of sailing on the edge in strong conditions.
