Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) moved slightly closer on Sunday to leader Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance), whose group he leads at the head of the Vendée Globe is entering the depression which will push them towards South Africa.
Charlie Dalin is the skipper who has covered the greatest distance in the last 24 hours (549.29 miles). But his first pursuer Thomas Ruyant has gained back ten miles since the 7:00 a.m. check-in on Sunday morning and is now 37 miles behind the leader. Samantha Davies (10th) lost a little ground on the leading group. The nine boats ahead, all equipped with foils, should see their lead over their pursuers increase thanks to the depression formed off the coast of Brazil.
“It’s a little harder to go fast”
However, “the sea is less flat and it’s a little harder to go fast,” explained Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable), who fell from third to fourth place in favor of Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa), 67 miles from Dalin. If the leading group manages to make the most of the depression, the leaders could return to the times of Armel Le Cléac’h in 2016-2017, who completed his world tour in the record time of 74 days.
“This depression will generate enough favorable wind for us to go down to the south of South Africa. It’s going to be a pretty quick descent,” Charlie Dalin predicted. Behind the leading quartet, Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) dropped to eighth place in favor of Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and Nicolas Lunven (Holcim – PRB). At the back of the race, Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe) “remains motivated” but is feeling the blow as he is more than 2,000 miles from the lead: “It’s hard to be alone, not to have no one around to size you up.”
The Vendée Globe rankings for November 24 at 7 p.m.:
1. Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance) 19,896.56 nautical miles from the finish
2. Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) at 37.98 miles
3. Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) at 67.92 miles
4. Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) at 89.57 miles
5. Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) at 90.66 miles
6. Jérémie Beyou (Charal) at 108.50 miles
7. Nicolas Lunven (Holcim – PRB) at 112.11 miles
8. Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq V) at 122.45 miles
9. Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) at 150.52 miles
10. Samantha Davies (Initiatives-Coeur) at 190.15 miles
…
39. Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe) à 2049.07 milles
Abandon:
Maxime Sorel (V and B-Monbana-Mayenne)
