Vendée Globe Race Update: Managing Damage
by Vendée Globe media 6 Dec 09:39 PST
6 December 2024
Antoine Cornic on HUMAN Immobilier – 2024 Vendée Globe © Antoine Cornic
Mainsail damage for Kojiro Shiraishi on DMG MORI Global One – 2024 Vendée Globe © Kojiro Shiraishi
Recent races have shown that no lead in the Vendée Globe is secure. As Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) speeds ahead closely following a significant low-pressure system, Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) and Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) in third and fourth places, now over 400 miles behind Dalin, are fully engaged in ‘damage control,’ striving to maintain a ‘reasonable’ pace, as characterized by Ruyant today.
Dalin’s performance remains exceptional on his Verdier design. He is about to achieve a lead that equates to 24 hours of racing at the current speeds ahead of both third and fourth positioned skippers and appears likely to set a new record for crossing the Indian Ocean this weekend. This would surely delight Dalin, who led in the Indian during the last race but struggled for speed amidst the turbulent seas he faced then.
Ruyant, who was Dalin’s closest rival in the last Vendée Globe, remarked today, “The wind is diminishing behind us. Our target is speed. Even that won’t allow us to close the gap Charlie has established. Seb, I haven’t charted a new course much. Meanwhile, Charlie is excelling with his southern route. He will have a significant lead, but in terms of the Vendée Globe, it will still be a manageable gap. We will take on the role of pursuers. We need to dig deeper to stay ahead of what’s behind. If we can maintain our current momentum and speed in the turbulent waters. I also don’t want the distance to the front to be overly vast. I aim to stay competitive at the forefront. I never expected the southern route would perform so well. I need to ensure he doesn’t get too far ahead, either. Charlie has effectively sped up. If I set too much canvas, the boat starts going much faster and accelerates excessively in the waves, and if there’s insufficient sail, it won’t start quickly. We must play with the boat’s angle. There have been a few minor crashes, but I’m very pleased with the hull’s performance in these quite challenging conditions.”
Dalin has managed to remain in front of the core of the enormous depression pursuing him, allowing him to continue benefiting from the favorable wind direction he enjoys. He should thus be able to maintain a direct course along the Antarctic Exclusion Zone towards the corner of the plateau mandated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. As he approaches this corner, heading towards the exclusion limit beneath the southwest tip of Australia and Cape Leeuwin, he is expected to maintain a 250-mile gap over Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil), his nearest competitor with whom he faced off against the massive low.
“It’s been sailing on the edge,” Dalin commented yesterday, reflecting on the necessity of exerting all efforts to avoid being trapped by the center of the depression tailing him. Simon, who got caught in the center of the system, faced a challenging phase of heavy seas and strong winds, will now need to execute multiple gybes, weaving along the AEZ amid rough sea and wind conditions. While he won’t gain as much from this route he shares with Dalin, staying to the south should still lead him to a solid second place when he crosses Cape Leeuwin as well.
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