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Julien Villion (Teamwork.net): “We’ve had a busy 24 hours. Yesterday evening, we crossed a front and picked up some wind to allow us to get the other side, but after that it was complicated. The wind was irregular and we made a small strategic mistake. We were considering two things. Firstly, applying a winning strategy, and then moving further south to avoid getting shaken up in the low-pressure system that we will encounter today.  Having to go south probably cost us some miles, but we knew that would happen. 
We had a problem during the night. I had to climb the mast and we lost a good hour. It was the worst night since the start of the race. The big Low will be moving in this evening. For two or three hours, we are expecting 35 knots of wind gusting to 40. The boat is ready for that. Justine and I will be getting some rest while awaiting that. We’re going to have to grin and bear it to get across the front. Once we can turn south, everything looks good – speed, smooth sailing and a fast route to the French West Indies. The summit is not far away.”

On Wednesday at 0427hrs. local time (Wednesday 0827hrs UTC), Anthony Marchand and Thierry Chabagny crossed the finish line in the bay of Fort-de-France to finish fifth ULTIM in the 16th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre. The elapsed time of Actual Ultim 3 is 16 days, 20 hours, 22 minutes and 43 seconds. They completed the 7,500 miles of the journey between Le Havre and Fort-de-France at a speed of 18.55 knots on the great circle (direct route). They actually sailed 9211 miles at an average speed of 22.78 knots (on the water). Their delta to the winner Banque Populaire XI is 2 days, 10 hours, 7 minutes

It was a busy end to the night for La Boulangère Bio. We hit a UFO and broke the mechanism for lowering the rudder. We have managed to repair it. On the rudder it’s just a little nick on the paint, so it was a bit of a fright for nothing.
Anne-Claire (Le Berre) is still wearing her boots and foulies, while I’m barefoot and in my shorts. We don’t agree about everything, but in terms of sailing, we do, which is the most important thing. 
Today, I tried to try to untangle my hair for the first time since the start. It was done in five minutes, but is going to take Anne-Claire longer. We may get the scissors out to deal with that tomorrow. 
I don’t know whether you noticed, but the Figaro racers who have moved up the Imoca class are having their own little race. Some of them even came by to say hello!  We still haven’t had time to take a shower. But the smell of the flying fish in our cockpit reassures us about how we smell!