The January Sails

Whilst record numbers of us have been leaping into the New Year sales fray, Dee and Aviva have continued with their own battle in the Vendée Globe round the world yacht race.

The holiday period has been anything but that for the four competitors that have reluctantly retired from the race. Announcements have been made by BT, Paprec-Virbac 2, Algimouss Spirit of Canada and most recently, fellow Brit Jonny Malbon on Artemis that they are no longer able to continue racing. From the original 30 competitors that left Les Sables D’Olonne, France on 9 November - just 14 are still competing in what is generally considered the most eventful Vendée Globe to date.

Dee has not been without her own problems and has been patching and mending Aviva’s main sail over the last few days as the laminate has started to peel away. To read Joff Brown’s latest blog on this topic click here

Race leader Michel Desjoyeauxon Foncia has nowrounded Cape Horn and is the first boat to exit the Pacific and enter the Atlantic Ocean to begin the final climb north to the finish line. Dee has extended her lead over Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas) to 60 miles, and was ranked in ninth position in the latest polling at 1000hrs GMT on 5 January.

For all the Vendée Globe race news and up dated position reports, log onto www.avivaoceanracing.com