A huge, noisy Costa Rican welcome greeted Franck Yves Escoffier (FRA) and Erwan Le Roux (FRA), co skippers of the Crêpes Whaou when they emerged out of the Caribbean darkness, comprehensively winning the Multi 50 class and taking line honours for this ninth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre race which started from Le Havre on Sunday 8th November.

Emerging out of the darkness to break the finish line off the historic port town of Peurto Limon at 2231hrs local time Monday 23rd (0431hrs UTC/GMT Tuesday) the French duo with their new build Crêpes Whaou! 3, only launched in August, maintained Escoffier's unbeaten record in this biannual classic, also scooping the IMOCA Open 60's to take line honours for the third consecutive time.

The finalists of the 2009 YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year and YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year awards have been announced.

The vote for the overall winner now goes to the members of the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA) in a secret ballot. The winner of each award will be revealed at two separate ceremonies during the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show in January 2010.

YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year finalists includes Paul Goodison, World Laser champion, Olympic Gold medal and five times European champion.

Paul is the only sailor worldwide to hold all three awards at the same time and was nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award.

A dramatic start to Race 4 of Clipper 09-10 in Cape Town saw eight of the boats cross the start line for the 4,700-mile race to Geraldton, Western Australia, while a collision between Hull & Humber and Cork, Ireland resulted in the two teams returning to harbour. None of the crew were hurt and the Race Director and the shore team are now assessing the damage to Hull & Humber’s port aft quarter and Cork’s bow.
 
California had another cracking start in the stiff south easterly breeze in Table Bay and was first across the line to massive cheers from the crew on board.

It is the perfect time for the leading IMOCA Open 60's to stretch out in near perfect downwind conditions, maximum sail power most of the time in the pursuit of pure speed. Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier Brénac on Safran have managed to continue their gains against their near identical sister-ship Groupe Bel, the leaders gaining another three miles from their pursuers. All three leading boats are pretty much lined up nose to tail on the same gybe, firing on all cylinders towards the coast.

Certainly the passage through the West Indies was near faultless for the leading duo. If Safran co-skipper had expressed any quiet reservations yesterday morning, then 24 hours later they have proven unfounded as their margin – worth at least 3.5 hours in these conditions – remains solid.

The rewards for breaking from the Atlantic in to the Caribbean may be promising, but meantime the transition for the Transat Jacques Vabre leaders has been energy sapping and, at times, difficult.

As they approach the passage between Guadeloupe and Martinique to break into the Caribbean where the return of a more regular E'ly trade wind is likely, the two leaders have been experiencing difficult, unpredictable squalls and long lulls, dark clouds with heavy rain showers and very unsettled winds.

Charles Caudrelier, co-skipper on leading IMOCA Open 60 Safran, remarked early this morning how the worst squalls always seemed to arrive when he was finally ready to sleep. Having then gone on deck to make adjustments it can be several hours until the conditions remain settled enough to return below.