Bulletin: 31st December 2007

Best wishes from Michèle and Dominique

The weather forecasts have sped up the New Year's Eve celebrations a little aboard TEMENOS II, but no matter, it would take more than that to affect the good humour of the two co-skippers, as we can guess from Michèle’s message last night. 

"This time, this is it, we’re becalmed. We're stuck 70 miles from the Farewell headland (Northern tip of South Island) and around 250 little miles from the goal. We were expecting it, but not to worry, it’s the last day of 2007, so we’re not going to end it with a grimace, we have to be positive.

We’ve only got 4 knots of wind, but if we believe the forecasts, it is set to kick in again in a few hours, by which time we may have a good twenty knots or more.
In the meantime, we’re making the most of this calm. It’s out with the foulies, the boots, and the duvet. Everyone is getting some air today. It's 18° and the sun is daring to point its rays at us, the last of 2007.

With a 12 hour lead over Europe we’re going to pass into 2008 before you. We’re soon going to ‘move across to the table' for the lovely festive meal which awaits us. Given that our evening is likely to be rather ‘lively’, we’re going to tackle the New Year’s Eve feast at tea-time!

We’ll be careful not to abuse the bottle of Sauterne aboard, in view of the next stage in the programme for the coming night. We're going to have to remain in good shape with clear heads... unless Dom wants to have a night of training for the Vendée Globe, in solo configuration? Why not? And during this time, me I can stay in my bunk… it’s worth thinking about, maybe I’ll speak to him about it!!!

We’re making the most of the occasion to wish one and all a fabulous 2008, don't miss a single opportunity to be happy!

And as they say in Switzerland "health and preservation!" (and with the accent please!)

Michèle and Dominique approaching Wellington “

And what better than a change of tack to enter the New Year? Contacted early this afternoon, this is just how Michèle recounted having celebrated the passage into 2008, on a tack change, on the sheets, without even realising the time.

Since the night message from the French sailor, the situation had barely changed as the average speed of the monohull over the past few hours confirms.

“We are 10 miles from the coast making very slow progress, tacking in 5 knots of wind. I spotted a boat with the binoculars today, fishermen visibly, the first boat in a long time. It's a pitch black night and we haven’t seen the coast yet.

The very localised gale currently being served up in the Cook Straits at the moment will drop off and shift over in the coming hours. We should have some wind, but avoid 35 knots. It's rather a good thing as this passage may prove tricky. There are a number of local effects to contend with and the gusts may be very violent."

TEMENOS II is expected in Wellington, from tomorrow afternoon, French time, in the early hours of 2nd January, New Zealand time.

Ranking 13:00
Rk	Boat	Dist to lead	Latitude	Longitude	Average speed
1	PAPREC-VIRBAC 2	0,0	54 26.07' S	153 03.19' W	13
2	HUGO BOSS	758,3	45 51.00' S	169 54.07' W	14,8
3	TEMENOS II	1624,6	40 48.60' S	171 41.57' E	6,7
4	MUTUA MADRILENA	2112,2	44 45.97' S	162 12.42' E	10,3
5	EDUCACION SIN FRONTERAS	2746,8	50 19.26' S	148 12.70' E	13,7