The final straight of the Vendée Globe is a bit like the last kilometer of a marathon: the finish is there, but you still have to avoid stepping on your switchbacks or taking a big spill. The weather, true to itself, is stringing together the systems as if it wanted to test the patience and tenacity of the skippers until the end. No one has the right to relax. Not even to dream of a hot bath or a good steak and fries on land. Between the last minute traps, the boats to be cared for after so much shared effort, and the ranking to defend tooth and nail, every decision counts. Now is not the time to lose track. “We have to stay focused, especially since the path is winding,” said Jérémie Beyou. The skipper of Charal continues his progress in this tense atmosphere. Concentrated on his maneuvers, eyes riveted on his instruments, he dissects each variation of the wind. After weeks of intense effort, his body demands rest, but he knows he must remain fully lucid. The last few miles require unfailing vigilance. “The sequence at the end of the course is really complicated,” he assured, almost as perplexed as a duck in front of a frozen lake.
Maximum concentration requiredHe knows that every moment is a test: the excitement of the end can become an enemy, and to project too early on the finish is to risk a mistake. The slightest distraction could undo everything that has been accomplished so far. To achieve the objective, it must therefore remain anchored in the present, lucid and precise. Transform impatience into control, energy into focus. But the uncertainty persists, making this final sprint even more testing. “The problem is that for two days, almost no weather model has been correct. We therefore have to deal with the wind as it presents itself on site,” explained the Finisterian. “I should have 20 knots, but for the moment, I have 15. I was supposed to jibe in two hours, but in the end, I just did it…” This inaccuracy, combined with the pressure of the classification, the requires you to remain constantly on the alert. “All of this shows how unreliable road forecasts are at the moment. I think I have a little margin over the others, but there is no question of relaxing,” he confided. And for good reason, each mile traveled has its share of challenges.
Passing Cape Finisterre was not easy: the wind suddenly increased to 35-40 knots, making the navigation particularly intense. Fortunately, this phase didn't last too long. Last night, I also really struggled to cross the ridge, with a super irregular wind, oscillating between 3 and 20 knots. And now there are repeated gybes. Until the end, I'm going to have work, that's for sure! Despite everything, Jérémie Beyou stays on course. Concentrated on his maneuvers, he knows that the slightest error could revive his pursuers, themselves propelled by a more regular flow and a direct trajectory. In this tense configuration, he must both control his advance and anticipate possible traps.
Fervor in Les Sables d'Olonne, tension at seaAnd this constant vigilance is not too much, because behind it, there is excitement. No less than eight skippers are expected to complete their world tour by the end of the week, transforming the Bay of Biscay into a sort of Parisian ring road on a big departure evening. But here, no horns or slowdowns: only a strengthening wind, increasingly ferocious waves, and solo sailors jostling for position in this final sprint. In Sables d'Olonne, it's already boiling. The docks prepare to welcome sailors at all hours, whether they disembark under the stars or at daybreak. The most intrepid, wrapped like eskimos, will post up on the quays to cheer the skippers in the dead of night, while late risers will take advantage of the “breakfast with live arrival” option, steaming coffee and croissant at the hand. The channel, for its part, promises to be a real spectacle: between spray, Bengal lights and cries of encouragement, the atmosphere promises to be electric. But on the water, the party is not yet on the agenda. Every mile is a struggle. The rankings remain in flux and browsers must remain as alert as a caffeinated owl. The slightest misstep could redistribute the cards at the last minute. One thing is certain: the spectators, like the sailors concerned, will live these last hours with bated breath. Find all the weather forecasts on METEO CONSULT Marine and follow all the news from the Vendée Globe in our special report.
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