A group of eleven boats led by the Normandy Charlie Dalin (Macif) was on the verge of passing the island of Madeira (Portugal) off the coast of Morocco on Wednesday evening with a slight lead over the rest of the 10th Vendée Globe fleet.
At the 7 p.m. check-in, Dalin had regained the lead in the general classification, posting a small two-mile lead over Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) and three over Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable). This leading trio, who already dominated the rankings the day before, saw a group of pursuers come dangerously close thanks to very stable weather in the North Atlantic.
Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) were now less than ten miles from the three leaders and, a little further away, Nicolas Lunven had also found the lead after taking a risky but profitable western option.
The Breton, twice winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, went from 38th place on Tuesday to 7th in 24 hours, at the same time setting the new record for distance covered in one day aboard a monohull: 546.60 miles (1,1012 km).
All competitors still in the race, a first in 20 years
At the heart of the fleet, damage began to accumulate after three days of racing. Maxime Sorel (V and B – Monbana – Mayenne), injured in the ankle, decided to take shelter in Madeira to be able to climb his mast and repair a part which prevents him from hoisting the mainsail. “I had to face the facts: the hook is broken. I didn’t expect such a complicated start to the Vendée Globe,” said the Saint-Malo sailor, 10th in the last Vendée Globe.
The Hungarian skipper of New Europe Szaboles Weores, for his part, informed the race management that he had torn off two sails after leaving in the pile. Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitane en Provence) lost her front mainsail at sea. “Without this sail, the next few days downwind in light airs are not going to be very fun. I lost a lot of energy but the race is still long,” explained the 34-year-old sailor in a video sent from the edge.
All the skippers have passed Cape Finisterre and were still racing at the start of the evening. According to the organizers, this is the first time in twenty years and the 5th edition of the Vendée Globe.
Ranking of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe Wednesday at 7 p.m.
1. Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance): 23,212.52 nautical miles from the finish
2. Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa): 2.04 miles from first
3. Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable): 3.09 miles from first
4. Jérémie Beyou (Charal): 6.43 miles from first
5. Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable): 8.51 miles from first
6. Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée): 26.40 miles from first
7. Nicolas Lunven (Holcim – PRB) : 28.14 miles du premier
8. Boris Herrmann (Malizia – Seaexplorer): 40.79 miles from first
9. Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil): 45.84 miles from first
10. Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V): 46.44 miles from first
(…)
40. Xu Jingkun (Singchain Team Haikou) 374 miles from first
