The skipper of Vulnerable took the lead at the end of the doldrums at 7 p.m.
Thomas Ruyant was the first skipper to leave the Doldrums, an intertropical convergence zone known for its unstable weather which slowed down the fleet, and took the lead in the Vendée Globe for the first time on Thursday. In the evening, Ruyant crossed the equator in 11 days, 07 hours, 08 minutes and 15 seconds. However, he did not beat the record set by Alex Thomson in 2016 in 09 days, 07 hours, 02 minutes and 09 seconds.
At the 7:00 p.m. check-in, the 43-year-old Northerner, 6th in the last Vendée Globe, was 13 miles ahead of the Briton Sam Goodchild after stealing the leader’s place from him during the night thanks to an option a little further west felt good. “In the middle of the night, over four hours, his speed was 16.9 knots, compared to 5 to 6 knots for Sam (Goodchild) and Sébastien (Simon, currently 4th)», Explains Pierre Hays from the race director. “He managed to find a less complex passage and take advantage of it.»
In ambush, Charlie Dalin (Macif), Nicolas Lunven (Holcim-PRB) and Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea) remained threatening less than 60 miles from Rettant and this entire leading group was heading towards the equator which they had to pass in the night. “It seems that we are now out of the Doldrums. In any case, it looks like it because it stabilizes!», appreciated Yoann Richomme, during the official session with the organizers. “The Pot was intense, with quite a few squalls and very unstable winds, both in strength and direction, but it was short», savored the defending champion Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq).
Before diving into the South Atlantic off the coast of Brazil, the Vendée Globe sailors will, as tradition dictates, offer a little wine to Neptune and wish each other a smooth journey to the finish. The rear of the fleet has just begun its crossing of the Doldrums.
Ranking at 8 p.m.:
1. Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) 21,323.94 nautical miles from the finish
2. Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) 13.10 miles from first
3. Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) at 36.01 miles
4. Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) at 37.89 miles
5. Nicolas Lunven (Holcim – PRB) at 48.08 miles
6. Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) at 54.87 miles
7. Justine Mettraux (Teamwork-Team Snef) at 55.28 miles
8. Jérémie Beyou (Charal) at 57.94 miles
9. Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) at 61.89 miles
10. Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) 63.05 miles from the first
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