Vigo (Pontevedra)
Updated:01/08/2021 17: 49h
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61 days Vendée Globe with half of the fleet ascending north from the South Atlantic and the rest of the IMOCAs defending themselves from the strong west winds in the South Pacific pointing towards Cape Horn.
“Yannick Bestaven finds himself in a zone of light winds in front of Brazil. Therefore, the bungee cord could “loosen” and the head of the fleet could tighten in the next 48 hours. The persecution group continues to play with low pressure “ -Christian Dumard, meteorologist.
Thomas Ruyant (“LinkedOut”) and Charlie Dalin (“Apivia”) sail practically within sight, the distance between the two IMOCAs is 15 miles when both sail on port tack with fourth quadrant winds coming from the low pressure located at 42 South and 49 West, with a radius of influence of 350-500 miles and that in the next 24 hours it will move 450 miles to the southeast.
“I didn’t sleep much last night. I had to be in the trim as I have very little information about the wind on the boat at the moment … I’m missing two or three things … It takes a lot of vigilance and attention. Makes sailing a bit plus a feel, it’s a slightly different mode. I have a solution to the problem, not right now, but soon; I need to get to the top of the neck, but now it’s a formality. This will be the fifth climb. I’m kidding, it’s not a formality in absolute, it is never a formality to climb the mast.
I am very happy to be in touch with Charlie Dalin again. It feels good when things are going in the right direction. This little speed test with a boat that is very similar in terms of performance is exhilarating. It will encourage us to join Yannick Bestaven, although it will be very, very difficult. But as soon as there is an opportunity to do something, you can count on me! I don’t know if there will be other opportunities. Yannick is in great shape, everything is working for him! He’s going fast, he’s making an incredible Vendée Globe. He must have a lot of confidence in himself and his boat at this moment ”; This morning (at 12:04 pm on January 8, 2021) Ruyant was reeling from aboard the «LinkedOut» when sailing in third position after the «Apivia».
Christian Dumard’s weather forecast for the next hours is: “Charlie Dalin (Apivia) and Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut) are sailing downwind in the northern part of the Baja. The group that goes from Damien Seguin (APICIL Group) to Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) continues to navigate upwind to overcome this low that is moving towards the southeast. They will find more favorable conditions once they reach the northern quadrant of this system.
The Maître CoQ IV should find some wind again with the high pressure system forming across South America starting Saturday, while those chasing it will be downwind, still under the influence of the low. “Banque Populaire X” (Clarisse Cremer) and “l’Occitane en Provence” (Armel Tripon) will have a more direct path downwind, which should allow them to get closer to the “package”.
In the Pacific, conditions are still windy for all competitors. Miranda Merron and Clément Giraud are sailing at full speed in 35 to 46 knots of wind ahead of a low pressure system arriving from New Zealand. Conditions should improve for them during the day. “
About a thousand miles from Cape Horn sails the third group of the Vendée Globe fleet commanded by Alan Roura (La Fabrique) and accompanied by Arnaud Boissieres (LA MIE C LINE – ARTISANS ARTIPÔLE), Pip Hare (Medallia) and Jérémie Beyou (Charal) .
Beyou spared no qualification about the harsh sailing conditions in the howling fifty: “I’m sick of this part of the Pacific”. Understandable because the group navigates in low pressure meteorological systems that are continuously happening on the route to Cape Horn. “These are storms, right now I’m between 18 and 38 knots, with a wind that changes 30 degrees with each squall. There is nothing that is very stable. So how do you handle them? That is the question. So you can cover yourself by 25 knots of wind and when there are 38 knots you are on the sails, when there are 18 knots you are glued to the water. It is not a very pleasant feeling. And then with a permanent side roll, you write your name in the water, you make S. In terms of average speed towards the finish, one would wish more. We have wind, but it doesn’t allow you to move forward. “
Like all the participants, on board the «Charal» the fatigue in the materials begins to take its toll, sails broken due to wear. Beyou plans to do a general inspection of the ship after Horn. He also has in mind the problems Pip Hare has in changing the wheel of the “Medallia.”
The fleet of this Vendée Globe 2020-2021 has been around the world for 61 days alone, when the first is through Uruguay. Four years ago, with the same number of days, the winner Armel Le Cléac’h was 125 miles from crossing the equator to the northern hemisphere. And in the 2012-2013 edition the winner François Gabart stood on parallel 30 South through Porto Alegre -180 miles further north than the current leader Yannick Bestaven-.
Before the release of the current edition, there was much talk about reducing the time of 74 days and 03:35:46 hours set by Armel Le Cléac’h, even below 70 days. At the moment, with the 61 days they have been racing it is evident that some participants will have to start rationing the food on board, since they are closer to the time invested by Gabart eight years ago in 78 days and 02:16:40 hours.
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