The advantage is still with the leaders as the Southern Ocean seascape unfurls its usual flat, muted colours, long swells and soaring Albatross. Overnight the gaps down the head fleet have mostly been prised open a few more miles.

Racing in 20 knot average wind strengths Sébastien Josse (BT) has earned four miles for his efforts through the night, but Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) has returned consistently fast speeds closing five miles on the leader, to sit less than two miles off second placed Generali (Yann Eliès).

The equation to be weighed up presently is the perennial dilemma, head south, sail more miles but gain more breeze, or sail more directly east in a few knots less of prevailing NW’ly, cover a shorter distance at slightly slower speeds.

Having taken a 120 miles slant to the south east, Seb Josse is back on the gaining gybe, heading near enough eastwards averaging something close to 15 knots spurred on the heels of a modest cold front. Over the last four hours his sixty miles of easting, while his closest rival, Loïck Peyron angles more south, means that the British built BT has gained nearly 20 miles and Josse is now measured at 43.2 miles ahead of Peyron whose birthday it was today. 

After three weeks of racing the leading boats remain incredibly close. Vincent Riou (PRB) and Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) are locked only on a parallel course, only four miles apart, while Riou reported a port and starboard crossing with rival Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) which was more in keeping with inshore Olympic racing than a round the world race. At 1230hrs this afternoon the pair crossed on opposite gybes,  a matter of metres apart. Riou filmed as the pair separated, PRB on port and Paprec-Virbac 2 on starboard.

As Dee’s third week at sea draws to a close, she can congratulate herself on making good progress despite changing hats briefly to ‘Mrs Fixit’ on the way.
 
Last Sunday, Dee and Aviva crossed the Equator and headed into the Southern Hemisphere as the Vendée Globe fleet continues its race south. Dee was in good spirits as she toasted King Neptune with a bottle of Champagne Mumm and a packet of her most treasured Haribo sweets.

The ritual of toasting Neptune is an ancient maritime tradition observed by sailors when crossing the Equator to request a safe passage. You can watch the video of Dee’s Equator crossing at www.avivaoceanracing.com/videos. 

As the week progressed, Dee found herself on a well-trodden path as she and Aviva pushed on through upwind conditions. The constant crashing, heeling and slamming is a stark contrast to the downwind sailing that Open 60 skippers normally encounter in the South Atlantic. Dee has been able to draw upon her past experiences of sailing against the winds and currents, so although life aboard is not comfortable it is at least familiar.