As the Vendée Globe fleet barrels southeast towards the tip of South Africa, the competition is heating up. At the forefront, Charlie Dalin aboard his Verdier-designed MACIF Santé Prévoyance is setting a blistering pace, clocking consistent speeds of 25 knots in favourable reaching conditions. This morning, Dalin extended his lead to 60 nautical miles, maintaining his grip on the fleet while sailing just shy of record-breaking speeds.
In his wake, Thomas Ruyant and Briton Sam Goodchild are pushing hard to keep up. Goodchild, aboard an older-generation boat, continues to impress with his remarkable performance, holding third position against the odds.
The Rush to the Southern Ocean
The leaders are chasing a critical weather system—a low-pressure front that could sling them directly into the South Indian Ocean. The key question is how many skippers will latch onto this fast-moving “flight south” and how many will miss out.
“There’s no time to lose!” warned defending champion Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ V), currently in sixth place. Bestaven, a standout performer in the Southern Ocean during the last edition, is optimistic about his chances.
“From the moment we find ourselves wedged on the north side [of the depression], we should make a nice diagonal to reach the Southern Ocean,” he explained. Bestaven anticipates a growing gap between Dalin and the rest of the fleet but also sees an opportunity to break away from much of the chasing pack himself.
The top contenders have been sailing in close proximity since crossing the equator, battling intense heat and working their boats to their maximum potential. Over the last 24 hours, Dalin has covered an astonishing 523 nautical miles—a testament to his skill and the performance of his vessel.
Holding the Pace
For skippers like Justine Mettraux (TeamWork – Team Snef), keeping pace with the newer, more advanced boats is a daunting task. Mettraux, positioned slightly further east, noted that she’s been sailing in lighter winds than some of her rivals. Despite this, her performance in the early stages has been outstanding, holding her own in a tight battle with Sam Davies aboard her state-of-the-art Sam Manuard design.
“It’s great to be part of a small pack of 10-12 people fighting it out at the front,” Mettraux said. “We’re all going to try to take a fairly northerly route with this depression coming from Brazil and, above all, not let it go.”
Records Within Reach?
For some skippers, the fast conditions present a tantalising prospect: record-breaking runs. Yoann Richomme (ARKEA PAPREC), who holds the solo monohull 24-hour distance record (551 miles), believes this could be the moment for an even greater achievement.
“When I set my record, I averaged 25.5 knots over 17 hours, and I think we’re capable of approaching 600 miles in one day,” Richomme said. However, he cautioned that the descent angles might not be ideal for setting a new record this time.
Navigating the Divide
While the leaders focus on capitalising on the weather system, others in the fleet are grappling with the prospect of being left behind. Swiss skipper Alan Roura (Hublot) expressed his frustration at the rapidly forming split within the fleet.
“It’s hard because it closes a door. We’re not going to have much of a chance of catching up afterwards,” Roura said. “The fleet did split up in a very short space of time—it really came down to very little. However, I think that in the front group, not everyone is going to leave with the depression. We’ll see some of them again soon.”
A Critical Turning Point
As the Vendée Globe fleet faces this pivotal moment, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The ability to hook into the fast-moving low-pressure system could define the race for many skippers.
For Charlie Dalin, the pressure is on to maintain his lead. For Yannick Bestaven and the chasing pack, it’s all about seizing the opportunity to stay in touch with the leader. And for those further back, the fight to stay within striking distance remains intense.
With speeds high, conditions favourable, and records in sight, the Southern Ocean beckons as a formidable yet exciting frontier. Stay tuned as the fleet races headlong into one of the most challenging phases of this epic circumnavigation.
