Sunday January 5
This Sunday, C. Dalin saw his speed slow down a little as he approached the Doldrums, located around latitude 2°N. Fortunately, the Doldrums are very small at this longitude, which will allow it, after a few hours at slow motion, to hit the northeast trade wind. This new wind will force it to sail upwind towards the north-northwest. He will have to take the best possible trajectory to anticipate the position of the Azores anticyclone at the end of the week. With a forecast which places him far to the east of his usual position, C. Dalin should set his course to the west to seek out a carrying wind on the western edge of the high pressures.
S. Simon, after having lost a lot of ground on the leaders, found more favorable wind conditions, with a light wind moving to the east. He will be able to benefit from a better wind angle and accelerate towards the equator.
Thomas Ruyant found himself trapped behind a cold front, with weak and irregular winds which penalized him.
Monday January 6
This Monday, C. Dalin will have passed the famous Doldrums and will find himself in a quickly bracing northeast trade wind, blowing at around twenty knots. He will engage in a speed race with his rival Y. Richomme, who will still be in the Doldrums. The objective will therefore be to escape as much as possible with a north-northwest trajectory to anticipate the shift of the Azores anticyclone towards Madeira and the Canaries.
For Sébastien Simon, the wind will continue to turn to the right, with an east-southeast trade wind which will allow him to sail at high speed reaching towards the Equator. He can hope to gain some ground on the leading duo.
Thomas Ruyant, located much further south, should encounter slightly more favorable wind conditions, with a west-southwest flow blowing at 10-15 knots. These conditions will allow it to progress towards the north while accelerating compared to the day before.
Tuesday January 7
This Tuesday, Charlie Dalin will progress at a speed of 12 knots in a northeast trade wind oscillating between 15 and 18 knots. He will continue to sail upwind, starboard tack, with a heading of 350°. This elongated trajectory will allow it to bypass the anticyclone from the west at the end of the week.
For his part, Sébastien Simon will move closer to Equator. He should notice a weakening of the east-southeast trade wind as he approaches the Doldrums zone.
Thomas Ruyant will find weaker winds as he progresses towards the north. He will have to opt for a tack towards the east to find stronger winds on the edge of the Saint Helena anticyclone.
Par Cyrille Duchesne, meteorologist expert La Chaîne Météo / METEO CONSULTFind the analysis every day METEO CONSULT Marine in our special report Vendée Globe.
