“The record is made to be broken and is largely beatable.” Before the start of the Vendée Globe, on November 10, 2024, Armel Le Cleac'h had warned. He wasn't wrong. By winning the Everest of the seas, Tuesday January 14, in 64 days 19 hours 22 minutes and 49 seconds, Charlie Dalin (Macif) set a new reference time, shattering by 9 days and 22 hours, the record established in 2017 by the one we nicknamed “the jackal”. The reasons for this feat are multiple. Franceinfo: sport takes a look at the different reasons which explain such a record.
Optimal weather conditions
In sailing, the weather is often the judge of the peace. After a 2020 edition marked by terrible weather, in particular for the leader of the race, the weather this time was favorable to the race leaders. However, the competitors of the 10th edition experienced a slow first part of the race. “We are going to be the slowest of the last four Vendée Globes”even worried Yoann Richomme on November 19. The sequel did not prove him right.
In the descent of the South Atlantic, they were able to benefit from a strong depression off the coast of Brazil, propelling them to the Cape of Good Hope. To the south of Australia, there is then an anticyclone “Who allowed the first three boats to have a quick route to Cape Horn”underlined in mid-December, the director of the race, Hubert Lemonnier, to franceinfo: sport.
In their journey back across the Atlantic, Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea) and Charlie Dalin first tasted calm and “the sweetness of Brazilian life” to use the expression from Le Havre. But they quickly found Aeolus. In the trade winds, the two men were able to go at full speed, pushed by a powerful front allowing “a clear passage in the South-East of the Azores”according to the analysis of Basile Rochut, Vendée Globe weather consultant. In summary, no doubt for the navigator Paul Meilhat (Biotherm), “the weather is the main factor in this record”he slipped into the Team [article payant].
Boats more efficient than ever
Another element to take into consideration: the evolution of the boats. Eight years ago, it was on board one of the first Foiled Imoca, the Banque populaire VIII, that Armel Le Cléac'h had established the new reference time. Since then, monohulls – like that of Charlie Dalin, launched in June 2023 – have continued to evolve. The foils have gained surface area and “boats can fly in more difficult conditions”says Le Cléac’h.
-“We have refined the design, the hydrodynamic sections and the shape to provide better stability to the boat. We are seeing notable progress with this edition, we are really arriving at high-performance solutions”judged Charlie Dalin's Imoca technical director, Guillaume Combescure, to France 3 Normandie. Result: the record for distance traveled in 24 hours has been beaten numerous times: by Nicolas Lunven (546.60 miles), Yoann Richomme (551.84) Charlie Dalin (558.2), Thomas Ruyant (571.59) and finally, again by Yoann Richomme (579.86).
A fierce duel between seasoned skippers
The epilogue of this 10th edition of the Vendée Globe also marks the end of a high-flying duel between Charlie Dalin and Yoann Richomme. A fight that pulled them up. “It was an incredible match with Yoann […]. It's thanks to him that we traveled around the world in such a short time. This pushed me to always return canvas, dig, dig, dig.”admitted Charlie Dalin, the Macif skipper at the finish. In turn, Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) or Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil), who also held the lead in the race, “served as hares” to achieve this great time. A real emulation within the fleet.
To get their ticket for the most prestigious single-handed race, the 40 sailors at the start also had to complete the preparatory races. An imperative that allowed them to perfect their machines and master them to perfection.
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