Dunkirk skipper Thomas Ruyant escapes and takes the lead in the Vendée Globe

Thomas Ruyant is leader. After eleven days at sea, the Dunkirk was the first skipper to leave the Doldrums, an intertropical convergence zone known for its unstable weather, and feared by sailors. He took the lead for the first time of the Vendée Globe this Thursday morning. And is now just over 21,000.00 nautical miles from the finish.

Lonely escape

Thomas Ruyant, one of the favorites for the race, had nevertheless fallen to 11th place on Wednesday evening. But in the night, the skipper and his Vulnerable sailboat overtook the leading boats from the west. A strategy adopted a few days ago, and which finally seems to have paid off, Thomas Ruyant was twice as fast as his competitors in getting out of the Doldrums.

In the standings, Sam Goodchild is second, only a few miles away. The skipper races for the same team as Thomas Ruyant, also aboard a Vulnerable.