Charlie Dalin (Macif) retains control of the round-the-world race while the leading sailors wait for a depression.
The night was calm in the Vendée Globe, and Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) was still in the lead on Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. (06:00 GMT), while the leading competitors are impatiently awaiting the depression which should carry them from the night onwards next towards the Cape of Good Hope.
The leader very slightly increased his lead over his pursuers compared to Friday at the start of the evening, but not enough to beat a cat. The Top 5 remained unchanged, and the first ten were still the same as in the rankings on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
“For the moment there is little variation, it’s rather quiet, almost monotonous”confirms Yoann Richomme on the solo around the world race website.
“The famous depression — which all the competitors are impatiently awaiting after the passage during the week of the Doldrums and the equator — is still far away, but it will allow us to already do quite a bit of southeasterly travel”adds the fifth of the fleet.
“It’s a real gateway to Good Hope in fast and still rather nice conditions”adds Richomme, who “looking forward to weather systems that go a little faster”.
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The leading competitors will probably have to wait until the night of Saturday to Sunday before benefiting from the first effects of this depression, which should propel them to the Cape of Good Hope.
In the meantime, the first twenty skippers had now crossed the equator early on Saturday morning, the second half of the fleet was preparing to do so during the day.
Ranking of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe Saturday at 7:00 a.m.
1. Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) 20,752 nautical miles from the finish
2. Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) 31.55 miles from first
3. Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) at 40.44 miles
4. Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) at 51.06 miles
5. Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) at 53.66 miles
6. Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) at 64.85 miles
7. Jérémie Beyou (Charal) at 66.47 miles
8. Nicolas Lunven (Holcim – PRB) at 70.08 miles
9. Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) at 71.31 miles
10. Justine Mettraux (Teamwork-Team Snef) at 82.22 miles
Abandon:
Maxime Sorel (V and B-Monbana-Mayenne)
Vendée Globe: From Lamazou to Bestaven, the winners of the “Everest of the Seas”
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