Key Points:
- Charlie Dalin’s Lead:
- Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) is now in the Northern Hemisphere and has crossed the significant 3,000-mile mark from the finish.
- He still faces tough competition from Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA), who is only 86 miles behind and sailing faster.
- Sam Goodchild’s Progress:
- Goodchild (VULNERABLE) climbed to 5th place after overtaking Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE), who is slowed due to the loss of a J2 headsail in 50-60 knots of wind.
- Goodchild remains the leading skipper in an older generation boat by a wide margin.
- Romain Attanasio’s Challenges:
- Attanasio (Fortinet – Best Western) is upwind for 1,000 miles after rounding Cape Horn.
- While happy to be in the Atlantic Ocean, the conditions are uncomfortable with 25-degree heel and frequent waves.
- Jean Le Cam’s Pursuit:
- Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère – Armor Lux) is catching up rapidly on Attanasio, coming from behind with better weather conditions and angle for the next month.
- Pacific Calm for Manuel Cousin:
- Cousin (Coup de Pouce) and Fabrice Amédéo (Nexans – Wewise) are experiencing calm weather in the Pacific Ocean, struggling to make progress due to light winds and rough seas.
- Louis Burton’s Return:
- Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée) is expected to return to Saint Malo after retiring from the race due to rigging failure in South Africa.
- Yannick Bestaven’s Comeback:
- Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ V) is returning to the race after technical work allowed him to resume his circumnavigation, despite being officially retired since 30 December.
Dalin’s lead under pressure
At 0600 UTC this morning, Dalin’s grip on the lead was being tested by Richomme’s impressive speed. Despite Dalin’s position in the Northern Hemisphere and the psychological boost of crossing into familiar waters, Richomme’s pursuit is relentless, sailing almost five knots faster. The competition between these two leaders is heating up, and with more than 3,000 miles to go, Dalin’s lead is by no means secure.
Goodchild’s rise and Ruyant’s struggles
Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) climbed into 5th place overnight, overtaking teammate Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE), who has been slowed by the loss of his J2 headsail in gusts of 50-60 knots. Though Ruyant regained a 21-mile advantage by 0600 UTC, the fleet is tightly packed. Ruyant now leads a group of seven boats separated by only 150 miles.
Goodchild remains the leader among older-generation boats, maintaining a strong, consistent race and proving that experience and strategy can still keep him in contention at the top of the fleet.
Romain Attanasio’s upwind struggle
After rounding Cape Horn two days ago, Romain Attanasio (Fortinet – Best Western) is now facing 1,000 miles of tough upwind sailing. Although he’s grateful to be past the harsh Southern Ocean conditions, Attanasio is now enduring 25-degree heel and frequent wave impacts, making the ride uncomfortable.
“I’m really happy to be in the Atlantic Ocean after such a hard Southern Ocean,” he shared. “But now it’s a bit harder, upwind for 1,000 miles—it’s not really comfortable.” Despite the discomfort, Attanasio remains in good spirits, buoyed by the memory of his third Cape Horn rounding.
However, his position is under pressure as Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère – Armor Lux) closes in rapidly. Le Cam, a master tactician, has a better angle and weather conditions for the coming month and is on track to catch Attanasio.
“The King John [Le Cam] is coming back really fast… there’s nothing we can do about that,” Attanasio admits.
Pacific calm tests mental endurance
For Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce) and Fabrice Amédéo (Nexans – Wewise), the Pacific Ocean has brought a different set of challenges. After battling furious weather in the Indian Ocean, they now face calm conditions that hinder their progress. Both skippers are currently navigating rough seas with light winds and are struggling to make headway.
Cousin shared his frustration:
“The Pacific is much more peaceful, but too peaceful in the last two to three days. We’ve had significant areas of calm, and it’s tough to move forward.”
Despite the mental strain, Cousin and Amédéo remain focused, determined to push through. The fickle nature of the weather in the Pacific is forcing all sailors to adjust their tactics and cope with varying conditions that test their endurance.
Louis Burton and Yannick Bestaven’s comebacks
In other news, Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée) is expected to return to his home port of Saint Malo after his race was interrupted due to rigging failure in South Africa. Although forced to retire from the race, Burton’s long voyage from South Africa has been a testament to his resilience.
Meanwhile, Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ V), the defending Vendée Globe champion, is also making a comeback. After retiring on 30 December due to technical difficulties, Bestaven has completed repairs and is returning to the race. Although officially retired, Bestaven will resume his circumnavigation this morning, continuing to share the adventure with his fellow competitors.
Malizia – Seaexplorer giving us an update today
Looking ahead
As the Vendée Globe progresses, Charlie Dalin’s lead remains in jeopardy, and the competition is intensifying. The next phase of the race promises more challenges, with skippers like Richomme, Le Cam, and others poised to close the gap. For sailors like Attanasio and Cousin, overcoming mental and physical obstacles will be crucial as they push through the unpredictable conditions of the Southern Hemisphere.
With many stories still to unfold, the Vendée Globe continues to showcase not only the physical endurance required for this extreme solo challenge but also the mental fortitude of those competing. As skippers battle for the finish line, the race remains as unpredictable as ever.
