Published on December 21, 2024 at 07:50. / Modified on December 21, 2024 at 08:20.
6 mins. reading
Offshore
Throughout the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe, the most prestigious of nautical races, “Le Temps” will offer an immersive story by journalist Virginie Troussier, who will navigate between strategy, trajectory, weather conditions and confidences from participants. A series designed as both a sporting and philosophical exploration of the relationship between the sailor and the ocean. Our series
The adventure continues with the same intensity in the Pacific. The carbon hulls split the swell blades. The soul changes tack at the same pace as the boat. And the neurons surf on the foam of events. The prevailing westerly winds, reinforced by the large depressions which arise in these latitudes, continue to exert their action on these immense desert areas. Temperatures are dropping further and further. After forty days at sea and half a world tour for some, the regatta retains all its fascinating power. Navigators face each other in a relentless naval battle, regardless of their position on the planetary checkerboard. Everyone has their own average, their own goal. The atmosphere is one of anger among the sailors at the head of the race, embodied by the trio Dalin-Richomme-Simon. After 36 hours spent repairing a sail, Charlie Dalin loudly asserts his desire to retain his first place. With a clenched fist, he announced it in his last video: “Macif Santé Prévoyance is back 100%, you hear me? I repeat, back to 100%!”
Skipper Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa, 2nd) does not intend to let him escape. Friends on the pontoons and accomplices on the waves, the two sailors could almost have raised a glass at this new meeting, stem to stem, but it is a question of remaining tactical. Richomme seems to view the sport as a multidimensional game of chess that requires constant juggling. Depression jugglers, backbone trainers, cape tightrope walkers. Until a few weeks ago, he seemed to regret his cautious choice of a route to the north, which had not paid off. While Charlie Dalin and Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil, 3rd) took a lead, he observed the gap widening. He finally managed to catch up with them and, satisfied, he explained: “I worked hard to seize the slightest opportunity, each time I went through a mouse hole to connect with the weather systems in front. The boat is doing wonderfully, I barely did any tinkering, I'm in tune with the routing, I couldn't have dreamed of better.”
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