While Charlie Dalin secured his victory in the vendée Globe nearly a week ago, many competitors are still battling the waves, striving too reach Les Sables-d’Olonne. among them is Violette Dorange, the youngest participant in the history of this solo around-the-world race. At just 23 years old, Dorange continues her grueling journey up the Atlantic, facing relentless challenges. This past Saturday, she was forced to undertake critical repairs at the top of her mast under treacherous conditions.
“It was an incredibly tough day,” Dorange revealed in a voice message shared by the Vendée Globe institution on Sunday morning. “I didn’t sleep at all last night, with winds reaching 30 knots (approximately 55 km/h). The mainsail collapsed, and I had to climb the mast. By Saturday morning, the wind was still at 20 knots (around 37 km/h), with swells of two meters.The conditions weren’t improving, so I had no choice but to act. I made the climb to the mast’s peak.”
“No Food, No Rest”
This type of technical issue is a nightmare scenario for any sailor, and Dorange had already faced a similar challenge just three days prior. She shared breathtaking footage of her precarious ascent above the Atlantic Ocean, captured in calmer conditions, with her Instagram followers.
“Without the mainsail, the boat was rolling uncontrollably—it was unbearable. I was terrified something would break; it felt like a never-ending nightmare,” Dorange recounted. “I managed to climb up and replace the damaged parts. I spent the entire day fixing the mainsail. I didn’t eat, I didn’t sleep, but I got it done. Climbing the mast was absolutely terrifying. Even when I did it three days ago in perfect conditions, it was incredibly tough. Honestly, I’d never do it again—it was too frightening,” she admitted, still shaken by the experience.
Currently ranked 28th out of 40 participants—with six having withdrawn—Dorange has faced a series of setbacks since rounding Cape Horn. Her journey up the Atlantic has been fraught with challenges, and she is now navigating off the coast of Brazil.
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