« Relaxing day with the sun outside, a little wind like 25-26 knots [près de 50 km/h] and a speed of 31-33 [nœuds, plus de 60 km/h]suffice to say I put the seat belt on, perfect day for a nap, I can’t wait to try, see you later, ciao. »
At the head of the 10e edition of the Vendée Globe with around fifty miles ahead of Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable), second, and Sébastien Simon (Dubreuil Group), third, Charlie Dalin, 40 years old, his hair stuck to the headrest of his bucket seat mounted on shock absorbers with sweat, quips, in a thrilling video from November 26, about his daily life aboard Macif Santé Prévoyanceits 18 meter foiling monohull.
“It’s really a speed race… I don’t really like this group which bombs at will; I’m part of it, eh, but I think we won’t be able to last two months like this! “, adds, the same day, Yoann Richomme, 41 years old, currently fourth on Arkéa-Paprec.
In the South Atlantic, on their foils – these boats equipped with side appendages allowing them to fly above the waves – the leaders of this solo round-the-world race without stopover and without assistance leave from Les Sables-d’Olonne (Vendée), on November 10, sailed directly to the Cape of Good Hope with the feeling of living in a shaker. Its crossing, which will mark, Friday November 29 or Saturday November 30, the entry into the formidable South Seas, should put their organisms to an even greater test. To the possible detriment of their physical integrity.
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“Larger lesions”
“So far, apart from large bruises due to falls, nothing serious, but the sailors’ reflexes will be slowed by the sleep debt which sets in after almost three weeks of racing, and we expect to have more trauma »notes Laure Jacolot, emergency doctor, sports doctor and referent of the medical team who watches remotely over the 39 competitors still in the race since the abandonment, on November 15, of Maxime Sorel (V and B-Monbana-Mayenne), injured an ankle.
The doctor, which has been monitoring high-level sailors at the Finistère offshore racing national training center for seventeen years, noted “ over the last four years ” a “ clear evolution of pathologies and traumatology » linked to the rise of foilers. With 25 out of 40 units at the start this year, these cars make up more than 60% of the fleet for this Vendée Globe.
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