Published on December 13, 2024 at 9:14 p.m. / Modified on December 13, 2024 at 9:15 p.m.
6 mins. reading
Offshore
Throughout the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe, the most prestigious of nautical races, “Le Temps” will offer an immersive story by journalist Virginie Troussier, who will navigate between strategy, trajectory, weather conditions and confidences from participants. A series designed as both a sporting and philosophical exploration of the relationship between the sailor and the ocean.
Our series
Three capes define the trilogy of the “tourdumondiste” sailor. After Good Hope and before the Horn, Cape Leeuwin greets the first boats this week, 840 miles southwest of Australia. Charlie Dalin, who has occupied first place in the race continuously for ten days, crossed it on Monday during his nap, which did not prevent him from beating a sixteen-year-old reference time: that of Michel Desjoyeaux, double winner of the Vendée Globe, established in 2008 on the Bonne-Espérance-Leeuwin section. Dalin improves this record by more than nine hours, with a time of 9 days, 22 hours and 27 minutes to cover the 4,400 nautical miles separating South Africa from Australia.
This cape does not yet represent the gateway to the Pacific Ocean which begins further east, under Tasmania. As they approach the longitude of this peninsula, sailors know that the Indian’s ordeal with its steep waves will soon come to an end to give way to the long swell of the Pacific. Further behind, the group led by Jean Le Cam (Everything begins in Finistère) is facing a new virulent depression whose intensity is reminiscent of that which hit the head of the race last week. The competitors no longer touch the same weather systems, almost 6,000 miles, or an ocean, separate the leader from the furthest navigator (Szabolcs Weöres, New Europe), which creates different realities. However, the race remains very competitive everywhere. Sébastien Marsset (Foussier), who is in 25th place, noted this: “Between 18th and 30th place, the distance is minimal. There is great intensity. We observe each other a lot, I haven’t missed a single ranking since the start.”
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