Artemis Transat Day 12 - Look out for whales!

We could find no records of a race that was so affected by wildlife. As of last night, yet another boat (Sam Davies' Roxy) struck a whale: "I sailed into a whale - my starboard daggerboard took the shock and now I can only use half my daggerboard. Bit scarey! I was sitting at back of the boat fixing my mainsheed padeye and doing about 13 knots."

This makes three boats in the 2008 Artemis Transat who have hit what they believe to be marine wildlife (2 whales and a basking shark). So, statisically, wildlife is the number one issue in this race, having damaged or disabled more than 20% of the fleet. Forget the tactics, forget the ice gate, forget the weather, forget the track. If you want to finish the Artemis Transat, avoid hitting things that swim!

The jury is back, and has decided that Loick Peyron's rescue efforts earned him a 2 hour and 30 minute allowance, as well as it's congratulations for the swift rescue. Gitana 80's skipper was, of course, not penalized for running his engine during the rescue. Commenting on the allowance, Loick said if he has to use it, "it would spoil everything."

Over the next 36 hours, the fight to the finish is bound to be exciting. Brit Air is playing a tactical game as Skipper Armel Le Cléac'h swings toward Nova Scotia, while Gitana 80 works to hold on to the lead. Their roles in the upcoming drama are foretold in the Skipper's nicknames: Armel as the "Jackal," and Peyron as the "Jedi Master."

• Video 1: Artemis Transat Day 11
• Video 2: Artemis Transat Day 12