An easy Doldrums?

According to Richard Silvani of Météo France, the two Mulit50s at the front of the fleet of the 14th Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre how to get out of the Pot-au-noir. 

“The Doldrums is not very active because on each side of it the trade winds are well established,” was the analysis from Silvani, the official race meteorologist. “In fact, the two anticyclones that are positioned on either side of the equator, at the Azores in the northern hemisphere and St. Helena in the southern hemisphere, favour an established synoptic wind.”

Doubtless that will make more sense to some than others and not all skippers will quite the same when they emerge from the notorious Doldrums. There seems to be a little wind in there, between 6 and 8 knots, but the squalls are active and the clouds are there. “The Doldrums are still tricky!” Silvani added. 

Back at the northern Cape Verde islands, the trade winds, are consistent with up to 30 knots. That was the report from Aymeric Chappellier on Aïna Enfance & Avenir at midday UTC: “It's a little humid, and we’re getting a little wet. We have 30 knots and big sea.”For the IMOCA, that are beginning to see the sky thicken, the trade winds are weaker. Charalhas begun its deceleration, but Apivia and Primonial, the third Multi50, were still clocking up nearly 19 knots this afternoon.