This 4th day of the Vendée Globe was not great for Thomas Ruyant. Already faced with a first damage, a leak at the front of the boat, the Dunkirk skipper was showing a little fatigue after having suffered all night. But he has also just lost his 24-hour distance record set last year during Return to Base. Nicolas Lunven (Holcim) actually covered 466.6 miles in one day. Or 6 more than Ruyant in December 2023.
Thomas Ruyant thus seemed tired during a connection established with the earth. He must in fact regularly bail out the leak in VULNERABLE's sail locker, discovered the day before. Nothing serious. But a restrictive job until he can go on deck to repair the damage.
« It's sometimes a bit like Niagara Falls with all the water on deck. It takes me a lot of energy to pump to empty the cabin, thirty minutes to an hour every two hours but that doesn't stop me from sailing. “, he confides to the vacations. The Northerner almost becomes philosophical: “ we will have other worries and so will the others.” Despite this, he has not lost ground and remains in the leading group.
The first damage
After two quiet first days, the 40 participants in the Vendée Globe were still facing difficult sea conditions after passing Cape Finisterre. As a result, the first damages, mechanical and physical, follow one another.
So Maxime Sorel (V and B – Monbana – Mayenne), Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe), Clarisse Cremer (L’Occitane en Provence) and Guirec Soudée (Freelance.com) have their share of problems. Others suffer, like Eric Bellion (Stand as one), Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) et Benjamin Dutreux (Guyot Environnement – Water Family).
Clarisse Cremer thus lost his mainsail and will have to do the entire race without it. Maxime Sorel he is going to take shelter in Madeira to go up to the mast to resolve a mainsail problem. He already seemed exhausted during the session.
In front of these “galley slaves”, the favorites continue their progression. Record progress for Nicolas Lunven (Holcim). “Nico” has in fact covered 546.60 miles or 1012.30 km, a record (pending official WSSRC approval)! He thus went faster than Thomas Ruyantwho had covered 540 miles during Return to Base, in December 2023.
Nicolas Lunven at full speed
The skipper of Holcim-PRB, who had taken a very western option, joined the leading pack (4th). We also find there those who were favored by the predictions: Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA, 1st), leader since this morning, Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance, 2nd) and Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE, 3rd), closely followed by Jeremy Beyou (Charal, 5e), Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE, 6th) and a resistance fighter from the start, Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée, 7th). After this 4th day of racing, a hierarchy has already been established in the Vendée Globe. And the positions are very tight at the head of the fleet.
Weather conditions should improve tonight. The 40 competitors in the race have just suffered their first blow from Trafalgar. There will be many more in the coming weeks. But after 4 days of racing, no one had given up. This is already a first in the eventful history of the Vendée Globe.
The 7 p.m. rankings
- Charlie Dalin Macif-Santé-Prévoyance at 23212.52 nautical miles from the finish
- Yoann Richomme Paprec-Arkéa 2 miles
- Sam Goodchild Vulnerable at 3 miles
- Jérémie Beyou Charal at 4 miles
- Thomas Ruyant Vulnerable at 8 miles
- Louis Burton Bureau Valley 26 miles
- Nicolas Lunven Holcim at 28 miles
- Boris Hermann Malizia-Sea Explorer at 40 miles
- Sébastien Simon Dubreuil Group 45 miles away
- Yannick Bestaven Maître Coq V, 46 miles
