Damien Guillou has recorded an impressive 180 miles of daily progress, extending his advantage over much of the fleet to around 1,000 miles. Pat Lawless continues strongly behind him, while Ertan Beskardes has reached the edge of the southeast trades in third place. For the remaining skippers, relief from the calms may finally be approaching, although Louis Kerdelhué and Gunnar Christensen could face a longer wait.
THE LEADERS
🇫🇷 Damien Guillou
Damien recorded 180 miles of daily progress and was making 6.8 knots, with Don reporting that he had seen 9.5 knotsduring the previous evening’s broadcast. Sailing fast in warm trade winds and seas of around 1.5 metres, he continues towards Trindade, which the fleet must leave to port. His advantage over much of the chasing fleet is now approximately 1,000 miles.
🇮🇪 Pat Lawless
Pat achieved 157 miles of daily progress, another strong performance, although Damien gained a further 23 miles over the same period. With their conditions becoming more comparable, Pat is maintaining the pressure, but the leader’s pace continues to make a sustained recovery difficult.
THE CHASING PACK
🇬🇧 Ertan Beskardes
Ertan is making 3.8 knots, with 91 miles of daily progress, after reaching the edge of the southeast trades. His course is more westerly than Don expected, possibly reflecting a different wind direction or a choice of sailing angle. His straightforward approach has paid off, and his eastern position could offer faster, more comfortable sailing south than the routes available to the western group.
🇨🇭 Étienne Messikommer
Étienne remains frustrated by the calms, making 1.7 knots, with 42 miles of daily progress. Don estimates that he narrowly missed reaching the breeze two days earlier, leaving him waiting while the leaders escaped. The latest forecast suggests the trades could reach him within approximately 12 hours, finally allowing him to accelerate.
🇮🇹 Guido Cantini
Guido is moving at 3.6 knots, with 49 miles of daily progress, on a heading dictated by the available wind. He remains close enough to Étienne to keep their contest alive and is expected to find more consistent breeze shortly after him.
🇮🇹 Andrea Lodolo
Andrea is making 3.1 knots, with 67 miles of daily progress. His earlier move across to the west has not yet delivered the hoped-for advantage. Don stressed that this was a reflection of how the conditions developed, rather than a judgement that Andrea’s decision had been wrong.
🇮🇱 Daniel Pinsky
Daniel is progressing at 3.1 knots, with 72 miles on the day. The western group is moving better than Don had expected overnight, but another light-wind barrier remains ahead. More reliable breeze could arrive by the following morning, although it is likely to come from ahead.
THROUGH THE FLEET
🇬🇧 Henry Wootton
Henry has recovered some movement at 4.6 knots, with 73 miles of daily progress. He is following the direction that allows him to keep sailing rather than holding the most direct course. After his recent frustrating stoppages, simply maintaining momentum is a welcome improvement.
🇳🇴 Mara
Mara is making 3.1 knots, with 77 miles of daily progress, as the western boats work towards the next breeze. Don said she currently appears to be doing well. He also clarified that her earlier use of Window Live to pass a message to her team resulted in a reminder about the code of conduct, with no penalty imposed.
🇫🇷 Louis Kerdelhué
Louis is moving at 1.7 knots, with 50 miles of daily progress. Don reiterated that he is safe and well, although he had not resumed broadcasting as anticipated. Don wondered whether the isolation and frustrating conditions were weighing on him, but this remained his interpretation rather than a confirmed account from Louis.
🇨🇦 Isa Rosli
Isa has slowed again to 1.6 knots, following 54 miles of daily progress. The renewed lack of wind has interrupted his recovery, although the forecast suggests he could regain useful breeze before Louis and Gunnar.
🇬🇧 Gunnar Christensen
Gunnar recorded 59 miles of daily progress and is taking the enforced slowdown in a relatively relaxed spirit. A report raised during the broadcast indicated small barnacles across much of his hull, which Don linked to a recent conversation with him. Their development and any effect on performance will need watching.
🇺🇸 Matt Woodside
Matt’s displayed position was from 04:00, showing 2.5 knots, so it was older than those used for most of the fleet. Don estimated that he might be another 5–10 miles further along, but this was not a confirmed position. He remains near the edge of the breeze, with better movement possible as the weather changes.
🇸🇪 Pär Nyman
Pär is making 4.4 knots, with 83 miles of daily progress, and has almost rejoined the rear of the fleet. He is sailing away from the direct route to maintain movement, but still faces a narrow calm band ahead. His daughter reported that he continues to enjoy the solitude, and he had indicated that he planned to return to Window Live.
IN PORT
🇺🇸 Guy deBoer
Guy hopes to leave Lanzarote on Monday 5 October. Interior fittings are being reinstalled, most of the fibreglass work is complete and the chainplate is in place. Departure remains conditional on race management receiving the required documents and completing the checks, including another inspection of the rig. The separate 100-mile sea trial remains waived.
WEATHER OUTLOOK
The southeast trades are forecast to extend north towards the waiting fleet. Étienne could find wind first, followed by Guido, with the western group potentially moving more consistently by the early hours of 4 October. Their initial sailing is likely to be upwind.
Louis and Gunnar may remain in lighter conditions for longer, while Isa and Matt could regain breeze sooner. Pär still has a calm band to cross and risks losing some ground if the boats ahead escape first.
Ertan’s advantage is about more than distance: his eastern position could give him a better wind angle for the passage south. Don suggested this might develop into a substantial lead over the western group, but that remains a forecast rather than an established gap.
Further ahead, the position of the South Atlantic high will shape the route after Trindade. The leaders continue enjoying favourable trades for now, while the rest of the fleet waits for its turn.
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