Vendée Globe: “Chaotic comeback” for Roura, Mettraux elbows

Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) further increased his lead over Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) at the head of the 10th Vendée Globe and was 167 nautical miles ahead on Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. (GMT+1).

In the early morning, Dalin was passing Cape Verde, now heading for the Azores. Sébastien Simon completed the podium, 718 miles from the lead.

Only this trio has so far crossed the equator, with a very large lead over the rest of the fleet: the fourth, Jérémie Beyou (Charal) is still sailing off the coast of Brazil and in a tight spot with Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) and Boris Herrmann (Malizia – Seaexplorer).

Behind these three men, we find Justine Mettraux (TeamWork – Team Snef) in 10th place. The Genevoise is only about 150 miles behind Jérémie Beyou. There are seven competitors sailing neck and neck.

“Justine and her comrades are in the process of extricating themselves from the semi-permanent front in Brazil and will ultimately not have been stuck there for very long. Better days are coming with the long slides in the South Atlantic trade winds,” the 38-year-old Swiss woman’s team indicated Tuesday evening on Instagram.

Alan Roura picks up

For his part, Alan Roura (Hublot) is still 17th, 3,723 miles from the lead. Despite rough seas, the Genevan managed to catch up on the three boats in front of him. This Wednesday morning, he finds himself less than 100 miles from 14th place.

“Chaotic start to the Atlantic for Alan, who is being shaken aboard Hublot as he gains, hour by hour, precious miles on his competitors in front, blocked by an anticyclonic bubble off the coast of Brazil” , declared his team on social networks late Tuesday afternoon.

Much further away, there are still nine of them sailing in the Pacific towards Cape Horn. By them, the Zuricher Oliver Heer (Tut Gut.), who is placed in 30th place, 6,617 miles from first. It is currently located at Point Nemo.

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