Tactical decisions shape the race
Yoann Richomme reclaimed the lead on Sunday morning, edging out Charlie Dalin by employing a more conservative northeasterly course. Richomme’s strategy has seen him gain a ten-mile advantage, consolidating his position at the head of the fleet. In contrast, Dalin has ventured further south, seeking a tactical advantage with a better angle post-gybe.
The two frontrunners are expected to round Cape Horn together late on Monday. Historically, leading at this point in the race has often proven decisive, with eight of nine past Cape Horn leaders going on to win. However, the last race in 2020 delivered an exception, as Yannick Bestaven’s time compensation saw him triumph despite trailing Charlie Dalin at the finish line.
Contrasting fortunes across the fleet
For Richomme and Dalin, the Southern Ocean has offered relatively favourable conditions—a rare gift in this leg of the race. As Richomme noted:
“We have between 20 and 25 knots of wind downwind, which will continue until Cape Horn. Once the boat is settled, it’s pretty much doing it all on its own.”
However, such idyllic conditions are far from universal. Éric Bellion, currently in 22nd place, described the stark contrast:
“They’re cracking on, surfing away, while I’m struggling to make meaningful progress in a rough sea. We really are in totally different universes.”
Skippers further back are facing extreme challenges: battling headwinds, navigating storms, or enduring stifling dead calms. For some, even the routing algorithms have thrown curveballs, suggesting unconventional paths like a northern route past New Zealand.
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Highs, lows, and hard knocks
Guirec Soudée had a sobering reminder of the Vendée Globe’s perils when a sudden knockdown threw him from his bunk, leaving him bruised but undeterred. Meanwhile, other skippers have had to perform vital repairs mid-race. Nico Lunven (HOLCIM PRB) climbed his mast to fix a batten car, and Jérémie Beyou (Charal) replaced a mainsail hook.
Further up the rankings, Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer) worked to recover from an unexpected knockdown, a manoeuvre that cost him valuable time.
The chase continues
Despite their lead, Richomme and Dalin cannot rest easy. The lighter winds in the transition zones offer a potential comeback opportunity for skippers like Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG MORI Global One) and Oliver Heer (Tut Gut). Meanwhile, mid-fleet sailors such as Jingkun Xu (Singchain Team Haïku) and Denis Van Weynbergh (D’Ieteren Group) continue to weather ferocious fronts, with gusts reaching up to 65 knots.
A Christmas finish?
The duel between Richomme and Dalin promises an unforgettable conclusion to this stage of the race. With Cape Horn in their sights and Christmas just days away, the Vendée Globe once again delivers high-stakes drama, unmatched in its raw intensity and human endeavour.
As the skippers press on through the Pacific, the question remains: who will lead the fleet into the Atlantic and claim the ultimate prize in Les Sables d’Olonne? For now, Richomme and Dalin are firmly in the spotlight, proving that sometimes, the best holiday thrillers play out not on TV but in the world’s most challenging yacht race.
