While the head of the fleet is preparing to face a first big depression in the Indian Ocean, others are preparing to pass the Cape of Good Hope. Not without anxiety.
Things are settling down at the head of the Vendée Globe. If Charlie Dalin still occupies the head of the classification with only 32 miles ahead of Sébastien Simon, Yoann Richomme, still third, has dropped out and is now more than 180 miles behind. And behind them the gaps have widened further since Thomas Ruyant, at the foot of the podium, is 410 miles behind, while Nicolas Lunven, who completes the Top 5, is 580 miles behind…
These growing gaps are the consequence of the tactical options taken by the different boats as they approach a large southern depression, the first for the Vendée Globe fleet. Strong winds with gusts greater than 100 km/h and troughs of six-seven meters are therefore expected. Enough to invite some to be cautious and therefore to favor a longer northern option while those in the lead intended to go the shorter route towards the south.
“What scares me is…”
Behind, others are only preparing to cross the Cape of Good Hope and enter the Indian Ocean. And worry is in order. This is the case of Violette Dorange, the youngest in the race, currently 26e of the Vendée Globe. “These last few days I have had a little bit of stress. I met competitors with whom I spoke quite a bit on VHF and we share the same concern: passing the Cape of Good Hope looks really complicated”she said.
“We are going to find ourselves right in the middle of a big gale of 30 knots (56 km/h) with gusts of up to 40-45-50 knots (74-83-93 km/h). But what scares me most is the waves, she continued. We can expect 7m of waves breaking because this is an area where there will be a current opposing the wind and the rise of the seabed raises the sea. I am a little afraid of not being able to control my boat and in this part of the world, it is impossible to take shelter.”
And the skipper added: “My objective will be to pass this milestone as quickly as possible without breaking the boat and avoiding danger as much as possible. »
