After consolidating physically yesterday and making sure he had some good rest, Mike Golding is back on good form this morning as he guides Gamesa towards the Australia West gate 385 miles in front of his bow. Golding is looking to pull back miles on Jean Le Cam but in the very gusty, squally conditions he is encountering, vigilance and prudence are more important just now than pressing too hard.
"Progress is steady," he writes. "It is very squally and so it is difficult to set the ideal sail plan. The most we’ve seen is 37 to 39 knots but then it is difficult then when the breeze is down because you don’t have enough sail, so I’m mainly on the solent and two reefs. You get a big, regular spike in the breeze and so have to watch for it.
"Otherwise the seas are getting quite big and so we are getting some good surfs from time to time.
"It is looking a bit benign ahead. The ridge (of high pressure) can catch us up and we sail on its rotation and start going north, but it should not be too slow. Meantime there are no breakaway options. I just have to keep following Jean."
Mike is expected to be on Vendée Globe Live at 1205 GMT today at www.vendeeglobe.org.
