Charlie Dalin's lead is reduced after Cape Finisterre… Follow the position of the skippers live

The skipper of Macif sees Sam Goodchild and Yoann Richomme coming back on his heels.

The first difficulty of the Vendée Globe, Cape Finisterre, was crossed by the majority of boats entered in the race. Charlie Dalin (Macif), is still in the lead, Tuesday November 12, but the favorite of the 10th edition sees his lead disappear against his pursuers Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) and Yoann Richomme, respectively back at 5.8 miles (less than 10 kilometers) , and 18.3 miles (33 kilometers), overnight.

The establishment, at Cape Finisterre at the north-western tip of the Iberian Peninsula, of a traffic separation system (DST), further complicated the task of sailors who had to choose to circumvent it by sea. interior, near the coast, or externally, further offshore. The majority of skippers, including the leading trio, chose the shortest route closest to the coast, despite the multiplication of maneuvers involved.

“It seemed very simple to me to go to the south of the DST, and it turned out to be more complicated than I thought!commented Sébastien Marsset (Fouissier) on the radio to the organizers. Very gusty areas and especially windless areas not necessarily where we expected them! We are leaving the coast, the sea is a little rough, it's not easy to find the right speed for the boat and to be stable above all, we have between 26 and 36 knots of wind! I’m trying to get out of there safely!”.

Winner in 2021, Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) chose to move to the west of the DST. As a result, he lost four places and around twenty miles (8th at 56 miles) but had to spend a less restless night than his competitors to the east and spared his mount.

Like him, the Swiss Justine Mettraux (Teamwork – Team Snef) chose relative calm. “We are in the atmosphere of 25-30 knots of wind downwind, since the approach to Cape Finisterre. I chose to do an outside route of the DST to make a trajectory a little simpler, a little more in control because that at the time we were passing it was really already quite strong in the corridor under Cape Finisterre Normally, we should not lose much on the optimal route. We will do the accounts in 24 hours, but it should not make any difference. big differences!”she told the organizers on the radio.