Vendée Globe | A leading group edge to edge in Madeira

(Paris) A group of eleven boats led by the Normandy Charlie Dalin (Macif) was on its way on Wednesday evening to overtaking the island of Madeira (Portugal) off the coast of Morocco with a slight lead over the rest of the fleet of the 10^e Vendée Globe.

(1 p.m. Eastern time), Dalin had regained the lead in the general classification, posting a small lead of two miles over Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea) and three over Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable).

This leading trio, who already dominated the rankings the day before, saw a group of pursuers come dangerously close thanks to very stable weather in the North Atlantic.

Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) were now less than ten miles from the three leaders and, a little further away, Nicolas Lunven had also found the leading pack after taking a risky but profitable western option.

The Breton, twice winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, moved from 38^e Tuesday place at 7^e in 24 hours, thereby setting the new record for distance traveled in one day aboard a monohull: 546.60 miles (11,012 km).

At the heart of the fleet, damage began to accumulate after three days of racing. Maxime Sorel (V and B-Monbana-Mayenne), injured in the ankle, decided to take shelter in Madeira to be able to climb his mast and repair a part that prevents him from hoisting the mainsail.

“I had to face the obvious: the hook is broken. I did not expect such a complicated start to the Vendée Globe,” said the Saint-Malo sailor, 10^e of the last Vendée Globe.

The Hungarian skipper of New Europe Szaboles Weores, for his part, informed the race management that he had torn off two sails after leaving in the pile. Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitane en Provence) lost her front mainsail at sea.

“Without this sail, the next few days downwind in light airs are not going to be very fun. I lost a lot of energy, but the race is still long,” explained the 34-year-old sailor in a video sent from the edge.

All the skippers have passed Cape Finisterre and were still racing at the start of the evening. According to the organizers, this is the first time in twenty years and the 5^e edition of the Vendée Globe.