Clear path Home for the leaders in VendeeGlobe

The leaders are sailing just south of the Azoren islands, and MACIF has a 90 Nm lead over Banque Populaire. The winds are showing, at the moment a favorable Westerly direction to speed the Homecoming; ETA now expected late Saturday 26 or Sunday 27 January 2013. 

A Happy Leader in the VendeeGlobe 2012

A sad story for Jean-Paul Dick, as his Boat lost its Keel some 2000 Nm from Les Sables. He is still considering his options, but for the moment with these moderate easterly winds, the boat is stabilized by taking in some 7 tons of water-balast. The speed has dropped but is still close to 10 kts. 

Sadly Virbac Paprec3 has lost its Keel

Some adverse winds are predicted on his course, and the question is whether it will be safe for Boat and Skipper to sail on or to visit the Azoren??? 

Alex Tompson, is now catching up and about 120 Nm behind but expected to pass in 1 1/2 day. The Podium seems far away for Jean-Pierre, but  his successor on 5th place is still south of the Equator and most likely not able to pass, even when the boats speed is reduced to the high single digits. 

France spoils the Atlantic Ocean.

IT IS A SHAME THAT FRANCE IS SPOILING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN ON A PURPOSELY AND VOLUNTARY MANNER!!!

The crap that is littering the
Atlantic Ocean with France subsidies!

It is sad, very sad to learn that some idiot is spoiling the Atlantic Ocean with plastic litter voluntarily. And the worst of all is that it is called "ART" ???  Though it is also called "The Greatest Floating Craps Game On Earth". 

A France artists, with subsidies from the French Miniseries of Culture, has made some crap from plastic (called good for nature as it is bio-degradable plastic;)( but how long will it take to get out of natures system??? and how many marine live will be killed by eating the pieces???)

Note: I read now in an article in the NewYork Post that this  crap is constructed from " out of plywood, pine, PVC and epoxy,  "(ref:http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/an-artists-game-of-chance-on-the-high-seas/). So  this is again a big lie, as PVC is about the most persistent plastic made on Earth while epoxy is also not really bio-degradable and the glue in plywood is made to last !!! 

Two of these pieces of crap are floating on 12eDecember from  Grand Canaria;  is that not Spanish territory???

The cubes are 16m cubed and left to float freely. 

Fear for the Sailors in the VendeeGlobe is, that they made have a collision with these floaters, mainly the first 4 boats; the VG lost already several boats and had more damages due to collisions with UFO's (un-identified floating objects) 

These are a danger for Marine traffic and marine life. 

I think the people who love nature and the sea, shall ALL protest against this littering of the Oceans. GreenPeace and Plastiki and WWF and other environmental Organisation shall ALL protest to the French President. France better be saving their country from bankruptcy rather than throwing their good Euro's in the Water!!!. 

France and the makers shall be prosecuted in an International Court for polluting the Oceans, endangering ship and boats and their crews and endangering marine life. They shall be hold accountable if any life of a mariner is lost or injured and to any damage to ships and boats. 

Suratna, my Boat in LiveSkipper finished the Sail the Globe Race

In LiveSkipper,virtual sailing site, my Boat Suratna did finish yesterday the Sail the Globe sailing race.  

Suratna sailing in LiveSkipper did finish already

This was an independent sailing race around the Globe, but similar route and starting time as the VendeeGlobe2012-2013. 
I am not with the leaders in LiveSkipper, but still faster as the Real VG Boats and also faster as the virtual Boats in VR. 

Happy to be home and too busy  with all Parties, I have to post this success only a day late.

The Real  boats , the leaders have just passed the Cape Verde Islands and now heading to the Azoren High.