Wind for everyone in the Vendée Globe! After days of difficulty for the latecomers in the South Atlantic, forced to play with the Saint Helena anticyclone to make decent progress, all these beautiful people are finally carried by a depression worthy of the name. As a result, even the top 20 boats reach and exceed 20 knots. A feat for them, the routine for Charlie Dalin, the fastest over the last 24 hours.
The leading quartet is within 100 miles
In the southern seas, the leaders are sandwiched between the northern highs and the Antarctic exclusion zone. Yoann Richomme, still the leader, is the one who is doing the best in this game, even if his status as first in class is more symbolic than anything else given his ridiculous lead over the skipper of Macif Santé Prévoyance. The duo made a small break on Sébastien Simon and especially Thomas Rettant, further north. But all these beautiful people are within 80 nautical miles, a trifle on the scale of the ocean.
The ranking at 11 a.m.
1. Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) 16,642 nautical miles from the finish
2. Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) 13.07 miles from first
3. Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) at 39.32 miles
4. Thomas Rettant (Vulnerable) at 83.26 miles
5. Jérémie Beyou (Charal) at 209.36 miles
Conrad Colman in Bob the Builder mode
A kiwi in trouble. Conrad Colman (MS Amlin) experienced a total blackout on board his boat from which he is slow to recover. Good news however for the American-New Zealander, he was able to recover the keel control box on Saturday, which he had to operate by hand all night before. It has even picked up a little speed in recent hours and continues its route towards the Cape of Good Hope, already crossed by nine skippers in the fleet. The 10th should be Samantha Davies, who fears more than anything this passage where she was forced to give up her arms in 2020.
News from Marina Foils
The strategy of patience is starting to bear fruit for the 20 Minutes boat on Virtual Regatta. Marina Foils takes off on the raging waves of the South Atlantic with top speeds of 20 knots. Well established in the top 280,000, the editorial board's drifting “foiler” will continue its rise thanks to the systems which will follow one another in the southern seas, while the roaring 40th are approaching.
The top 150,000 is still a sweet dream, but the distance is closing with the fleet at the front. So, sometimes gaining momentum is good.
