Orange II Update: Bruno Peyron just came in with the following from the boat:

“The wind has got up again, but at dawn this morning we were slowed right down with some fairly weak winds. Having said that, we were still doing 22 / 23 knots. Things are better now, as our speed is varying from 28 to 30 knots, and if I place my little cursor on the finishing line, the computer calculates that we’ll cross the finish in 4 hours and 32 mins (situation at 11.40 CET-editor’s footnote). But it keeps on changing, so anything is possible for the better or worse. On a direct course, there won’t be any problem, as our average speed is good enough to do it, but if we have to tack, things are less certain. I’m repeating myself but even if we’re really channelling our efforts as we enter the Channel, it’s all down to a question of minutes! Moreover, such a minuscule time difference is unheard of in the history of this record… But 120 miles isn’t that far, and we’ll soon know the outcome!”

Stay tuned…