Charlie Dalin (Macif) is still leading the Vendée Globe but is closely followed by two of his competitors, Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) and Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa).
Charlie Dalin (Macif) crossed Cape Finisterre in the lead, the first difficulty of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, but at 7:00 a.m. Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) and Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) had both returned to within ten miles of the during the night. Richomme held the highest average (15.72 knots) in the fleet over the last 24 hours, which allowed him to regain 49 miles from Dalin and only be 9 miles from the lead.
Interspersed, Goodchild also regained ground at Dalin (12 miles to be only 6 miles from the leader) and passed Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil). The establishment, at Cape Finisterre at the northwest tip of the Iberian Peninsula, of a traffic separation system (DST) further complicated the task of sailors who had to choose to bypass it from the inside , near the coast, or from the outside, further offshore.
The majority of skippers, including the leading trio, chose the shortest route closest to the coast, despite the multiplication of maneuvers involved. “It seemed very simple to me to pass through the south of the DST, and it turned out to be more complicated than I thought!” Sébastien Marsset (Fouissier) commented on the radio to the organizers. Very gusty areas and especially windless areas not necessarily where we expected them! We are leaving the coast, the sea is a little rough, it’s not easy to find the right speed for the boat and to be stable above all, we have between 26 and 36 knots of wind! I’m trying to get out of there without any damage!”
Also read
Vendée Globe: images of Charlie Dalin and Jérémie Beyou off the coast of La Coruna
Once the DST passed, he immediately headed west to move away from the coast and was in 20th place at 96 miles at 07:00. Winner in 2021, Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) chose to move to the west of the DST. As a result, he lost four places and around twenty miles (8th at 56 miles) but had to spend a less restless night than his competitors to the east and spared his mount. Like him, the Swiss Justine Mettraux (Teamwork – Team Snef) chose relative calm. “We are in the mood of 25-30 knots of wind downwind, since approaching Cape Finisterre. I chose to do an outside route of the DST to make a trajectory a little simpler, a little more in control because at the time we were passing it was really already quite strong in the corridor under Cape Finisterre. Normally, one should not lose much on the optimal route. We will do the accounts in 24 hours, but there should not be any big differences!” she told organizers on the radio. At 7:00 a.m., she was in 21st place, 97 miles from the lead.
