Bernard Stamm, sailing ‘Cheminees Poujoulat’, in the Velux single handed round the world race event Velux 5 Oceans, late last night rounded the Cape Horn at a speed of 16 knots. “Cape Horn was rough but I could see the rock very well. The waves became very big when I arrived in shallow water”, said Stamm. The seabed rose to 68 metres and the wind reached speeds of up to 50 knots. He is pleased to be out of the Pacific.

With ‘Cheminees Poujoulat’ in an 1800 mile lead of ‘Spirit of Yukoh’ Bernard Stamm is continuing North East on a longer route and avoiding the narrow and treacherous Le Maire Strait. Halfway through the leg the Swiss yachtsman continues to sail hard to allow for any high pressure systems still to be encountered in the 7,000 miles left of this leg.

Kojiro Shiraishi on ‘Spirit of Yukoh’ contiunues due East above the latitude of the second mandatory race ice gate. Unai Basurko, in third place on ‘Pakea’ is 1,000 miles west. Pangea’s headsail ripped this morning and Basurko is waiting for it to dry before doing repairs. Graham Dalton, in the Open 50 ‘A Southern Man- AGD’, is now only 90 miles from Basurko and further South. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on ‘Saga Insurance’ had to contend with a broken headboard car attaching the top of the mainsail to the mast track. Sir Robin has made a temporary fix and when conditions improve he will make further repairs. Visit www.velux5oceans.com for more.