Vendée Globe Race Update: Facing the Next Challenge…
by Vendée Globe media 10 Dec 12:55 PST
10 December 2024
Benjamin Dutreux on GUYOT Environment – Water Family – Vendée Globe 2024 © Benjamin Dutreux
After the pack behind quickly caught up with Vendée Globe leaders Charlie Dalin (MACIF Prévoyance) and Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) yesterday, the leading group of nine skippers is now considering their next hurdle as they pass beneath Australia heading towards Tasmania’s longitude and the exit from the ruthless Indian Ocean.
All will need to achieve maximum speed to evade an expanding high-pressure area that threatens to hinder this top group. Consequently, Dalin, the long-time race leader, may be able to regain some distance.
Christian Dumard, the weather consultant for the Vendée Globe, explains, “Charlie will pass before the wind weakens too much. The others will be forced to head north around the high-pressure ridge. Hence, the distance between them will increase slightly from the middle of tonight.”
The skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance will have to remain south and perform multiple gybes, while the ‘hunters’ following him can take a more direct northern route.
Along the way, Dalin has broken the record for the passage between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin. At 9d 22h 27min, he surpasses a 16-year-old record set by Michel Desjoyeaux while on his way to winning his second Vendée Globe. His rapid crossing of the Indian Ocean, under optimal weather conditions, allowed him to take the race lead on the 35th day after Mike Golding dismasted during a ferocious phase that also saw previous race leaders Loïck Peyron and Jean-Pierre Dick encounter serious issues.
Les Sables d’Olonne’s own Simon, currently in second place, reiterated that he will not be overly hindered by the loss of his starboard foil.
“I’m holding on, and I’m staying motivated,” he shared with Vendée President Alan Leboueuf during a live French broadcast today, “I felt a lot of emotion at that moment. I was questioning why it happened now and in such a place, especially since it’s a reliable foil. It’s a break I can’t quite explain. Nevertheless, everything is still achievable; I hope the Pacific lives up to its reputation. I would like to inspect my boat, but conditions currently make this impossible.”
“Charlie will pass before the wind weakens too much. The others will be obliged to go north around the ridge of high pressure. The gap between them will therefore widen a little from the middle of tonight,” Christian Dumard stated.
No straight shots here
In the Southern Ocean, the most direct routes aren’t necessarily the quickest. Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier) appears resolute in proving that sometimes resisting to stay south and contend with the major lows can pay off, akin to Louis Burton during the 2020-21 race when he opted to stay south and followed a more direct path but faced severe conditions. His reward then was a brief hold on the lead. However, for rookie Cornic, the upcoming 24 hours will be incredibly challenging, with gusty winds exceeding 50kts and enormous seas.
Meanwhile, after discovering cracks in the forward bulkhead of Medallia this morning, Brit Pip Hare completed her composite repair program but had to ease off and let the repairs cure, all while trying not to lose too many miles to 15th-placed Romain Attanasio (Fortinet-Best Western).
Hare mentioned this morning, “The last 24 hours have been extremely rough, and looking at the current sea state, it still resembles a maelstrom. The waves are approaching five meters—around 4.5—but essentially we are being lifted into the waves. We’ve changed course to handle the waves side-on instead of from behind, but the wind is also hitting the waves side-on, causing them to break. The wave period has shortened, becoming much steeper and violent, making it challenging to keep the boat moving in these conditions. It’s exhausting and is unfortunately taking a toll on my boat. Last night, while conducting checks, I found a crack in one of my forward bulkheads. It’s not too severe, and I caught it very early.”
Find out more…
