While the leaders of Vendée Globe continue their ascent towards the North, Charlie Dallin et Yoann Richomme crossed the dreaded Doldrums last night. This delicate passage, known for its capricious winds and unstable squalls, slowed them down for several hours.
At the 11 a.m. check-in, the skipper of Macif Santé Prévoyance, 78 miles ahead of Yoann Richomme, had put coal back into the northeast trade winds and this midday posted speeds above 20 knots. The arrival of the first in Les Sables is scheduled between January 14 and 16, while Armel Le Cléac’h’s record (74 days in 2026) should be beaten by around ten days…
Jérémie Beyou in ambush
Behind the first two, Jeremy Beyou carried out an excellent operation by regaining 5th place just 20 miles from Thomas Ruyant handicapped by the loss of his J2. However, the skipper of Charal will have to deal with areas of unstable squalls which could redistribute the cards in this compact group of up to Nicolas Lunven (Holcim PRB)currently 10th after trying an option further east. The coming hours promise to be decisive for the podium contenders.
The return of King Jean Le Cam
Great figure in offshore racing, Jean Le Cam is once again among the best thanks to favorable weather conditions for its IMOCA with daggerboards. The dean of the Vendée Globe picks up in the wake of Romain Attanasio et Damien Seguinonce again demonstrating his talent and ability to exploit every opportunity. A comeback that will not fail to delight the many supporters of “King John”…
Louis Burton: return to St-Malo
On the abandonment side, Louis Burtonforced to throw in the towel at the Cape of Good Hope, completed his return to Saint-Maloits home port. Despite the disappointment, this return marks an important step for the skipper and his team, who will now be able to begin repairs and learn the lessons of this campaign.
Yannick Bestaven: closing the loop outside of racing
Another skipper out of the race, Yannick Bestavenafter having crossed the legendary Cape Horn, will set sail again this morning to complete its non-competitive world tour. A symbolic loop that he is preparing to complete “in good company”, taking advantage of the last miles to salute the greatness of this event, even outside the official classification.
