Who will win the 2024 edition of the Vendée Globe? At a time when the new departure from the Everest of the seas is fast approaching (this Sunday, November 10, 1:02 p.m.), there are 40 contenders. Everyone wants to cross the finish line in first position. However, this is no guarantee of winning the race. Return to the example of the 2020-2021 edition, where the first to cross the line did not win the Grail.
The rescue of Kévin Escoffier in the balance
On November 30, 22 days after the big departure, Kévin Escoffier (PRB) suffered major damage, which led to its sinking.
The Saint-Malo skipper was the victim of a major leak. It was therefore sinking near the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) and triggered its distress beacon, while managing to contact the race management in order to warn them of its problems.
To survive, Escoffier then got on his life raft, waiting for another skipper to come and help him. Race director Jacques Caraës notably initiated emergency services and asked Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam !), Yannick Bestaven (Master Rooster IV) et Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer – Yacht club of Monaco) to divert towards the sinking area in order to rescue him.
Time compensation
In order to compensate for the small detour of the three men who came to lend Escoffier a helping hand, the race direction decided to provide them with time compensation: 4:15 p.m. for Jean Le Cam, 10:15 a.m. for Yannick Bestaven and 6:15 a.m. for Boris Hermann. This time was therefore deducted on arrival.
Charlie Daly (Apivia) crossed the finish line in first position on January 27 at 8:35 p.m. Louis Burton (Valley Office 2), at the second, on January 28 at 12:45 a.m. Followed by Yannick Bestaven at 4:19 a.m.
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However, thanks to time compensation, it is indeed the skipper of Master Rooster IV who is declared the winner, since he arrived only 7 hours and 44 minutes after Dalin. The Nazairien therefore benefited from a tight fleet until the end to win.
