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At 1200 hours UT yesterday Branec had 300 miles to go whilst Cotonella and Spirit are neck and neck with 360 and 362 miles.

Other news today brought the retirement of Michel JAHENY (FRA) in Chivas III due to boat damage during the recent storm. He reported that he was heading for the Azores. Lia DITTON (GBR) reported better conditions and that she was taking this opportunity to carry out repairs.

The leading monohull is Olympian Challenger with 543 miles to go with the next yacht Atlantic Express some 240 miles further back. Still going well is Lionel REGNIER (FRA) in the 30 foot Trois Milles Sabords with 1,099 miles to Newport.

Skipper of the leader, Branec IV, Roger LANGEVIN (FRA) gave voice to his thoughts yesterday, 'We take the same given problems and recalculate the route - Newport is one degree west at 300 miles - the wind has gone west and a little depression descends on us and there is a risk of entrapment. Solution we must descend south more quickly and lengthen the distance to go somewhat before choosing the right moment to tack. There it is on paper. But where is my friend Pierre on Spirit? The positions of the yachts are given only once per day in the evening - therefore a bit too late to talk about tactics and marking. The result will be on the finish line. '

'This morning the fog has disappeared and the wind is not very strong but in the night it was rough W 6/7 very humid and the visibility reduced during the last three days to 100 metres.'