Caught in a severe depression in the Indian Ocean, the sailors will experience two very eventful days.
France Télévisions – Sports Editorial
Published on 04/12/2024 08:42
Reading time: 1min
There was no getting around it. It was in the middle of a southern storm that Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) and Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) continued their duel at the head of the race. The first was 36 nautical miles ahead at 7 a.m. on Wednesday December 4. Behind, a group of seven pursuers chose to go further north to avoid the violent depression which is transforming the Indian Ocean into a roller coaster, with waves exceeding seven meters and wind gusts of more than 50 knots.
“I'm a little apprehensive. We're going to hold on tight for 48 hours (…). There aren't too many solutions. The road stops dead in its tracks. We'll just have to be very careful and careful with the boat , let the worst of the storm pass, hoping that we get through it safely and that everything goes well”anticipated Sébastien Simon on Tuesday.
“Physically and morally, I'm going well. I would like just a little more sleep, but at the moment the sea conditions mean that it's not easy to rest, it's a lot of pressure.”
Justine Mettrauxskipper of Teamwork Team Snef, current 10th
In these difficult conditions, the third, Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) continues to make up part of his gap on the leading duo. It is 279 miles from Charlie Dalin. He, like the other pursuers, have progressed better in recent hours than the leading duo.
39 of the 40 boats are still in the race. As the leaders prepare to reach the Kerguelen Islands, more than half of the fleet has not yet passed the Cape of Good Hope.
