The Vendée Globe verdict should probably fall on Tuesday. It is still Charlie Dalin who occupies the head of the fleet on his monohull Macif Santé Prévoyance after 64 days at sea, with a significant gap over his runner-up Yoann Richomme, but not yet completely decisive. Since leaving Les Sables d’Olonne, the fight for victory has been intense and the outcome has been just as intense for the two sailors involved and for their teams on land.
The race may have lasted more than two months, but this world tour went by rather quickly for Jean-Luc Nélias, the manager of Charlie Dalin’s team. “The very beginning, the first 40 or 50 days, went by very quickly, they were interesting to follow, with the battle, so it was great. And then, obviously, we are all in a hurry for it to end” , admits the manager.
It will take another 48 hours at sea. And like his small team around him, Jean-Luc Nélias keeps his eyes glued to the performance of the Norman who has been in the lead 80% of the time in this Vendée Globe. Clean sailing from Charlie Dalin, despite the wear. “It’s rather regular and controlled. He certainly had moments of doubt,” recognizes Jean-Luc Nélias, who especially emphasizes the risks linked to fatigue.
“It is the sailor’s primary enemy. Because he loses lucidity, strategy, tactics, he will maneuver less well, he will break equipment. Fatigue is a vicious spiral, in fact. “
Jean-Luc Néliasat franceinfo
And behind the untouchable Charlie Dalin, Yohann Richomme on Paprec Arkea also made a strong impression for his first Vendée Globe. “We are really surprised by both the endurance of the skipper and the reliability of the machine”confides Romain Ménard, the Breton team director. “Yohann is truly amazing. He is enjoying this first Vendée Globe very well. It must still be emphasized that he is the rookie of a world tour of the southern seas, who is in the top ten, twelve sailors.”
Romain Ménard also salutes the link he maintains with life on earth. “He is surprising because he also remains very connected to earthly life on very practical things in our family lives with people on the team or on things that are a little more professional.”
High-performance skippers and boats that hold up, confirms Guillaume Combescure, Charlie Dalin’s technical director. “There are inevitably situations that need to be resolved quickly. But he has always been in control and calm. There has been no heat stroke.”
“There’s never been a greater chance of having a serious problem than now, because the equipment is getting old.”
Guillaume Combescure, the technical director of Charlie Dalinat franceinfo
But it is not yet the time to think about deliverance for Guillaume Combescure “I didn’t have the feeling that it was going to go well, so far it has gone well, but there is a greater chance of something bad happening now than a week ago or a month ago.”
On land, the teams of the leading duo are busy welcoming the two loners, as valiant heroes or unfortunate heroes.
Vendée Globe: with the land teams of the two leaders – Report by Jérôme Val
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