Vendée Globe Race Thursday Update: Race leader Dalin stands out
by Vendée Globe media 5 Dec 09:03 PST
5 December 2024
Justine Mettraux on TeamWork – Team Snef – 2024 Vendée Globe © Justine Mettraux
Whether navigating the Indian Ocean – where leaders Charlie Dalin and Sébastien Simon currently race – or just entering it from South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas, the Vendée Globe fleet faces numerous challenges.
The leading duo is racing ahead of a massive low-pressure system while passing the Kerguelen Islands. Ahead of the Cape of Good Hope, there’s no easy entry onto this low-pressure chain. Several skippers encounter small mechanical issues, but Louis Burton’s situation has become race-ending. The Bureau Vallée skipper, who placed third in the last race, has had to drop out and is heading for Cape Town due to damage to his J2 stay fitting, which threatens mast safety. With no viable solutions, Burton and his team made a tough decision, marking him as the second skipper to retire from this record-setting fleet of 40.
Establishing standards
Throughout the fleet, establishing standards and determining risk levels is crucial. The sea state in the Agulhas current, south and east of South Africa, has been extremely challenging, as has been the situation for Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) and Simon (Groupe Dubreuil), who are ahead of the large low-pressure system.
“It’s like a roller coaster; it goes up and down, accelerating and decelerating, and what’s great is that there’s no need to purchase another ticket, we can ride this all day long!” remarked defending Vendée Globe champion Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ V). Whether north of the Kerguelen Islands or near Africa’s southern tip, the Vendée Globe sailors mostly contend with rough conditions, and, as typical in the Indian Ocean, it’s the turbulent waters that hinder progress and make sailing so challenging.
“We’ve been tossed around quite a bit over the past two days. The boat is speeding hard and crashing into the next wave, jolting in all directions, and it’s not very comfortable. I feel like I’m sailing in the Raz Blanchard (the infamous Alderney Race), except that while that typically lasts a few hours, here it’s ongoing, 24/7, never stopping!” shared Louis Duc (Five Group – Lantana Environnement), who is being jostled in the challenging Agulhas Current. “We shift from 30 to 10 knots in almost an instant. It puts a lot of stress on the boat and on me. You must stay alert or end up on the floor.”
Charlie Dalin 1 Monster Low 0 (HT)
At the front, race leader Charlie Dalin seems to be almost enjoying his contest, which at present is not against rivals, but with the low-pressure system. At the low’s center, ten-meter waves and fierce gusts of 60 knots are present. However, if Dalin and Simon can stay ahead of the worst part of this relentless system, their gains could be notable.
Dalin stated today, “I am feeling a bit worn out; I need some rest. But other than that, I’m doing well. I’m racing against this monstrous low pressure. Things are going alright, and I’m keeping up with my routing, which is great. I’m in a good spot right now, making solid progress eastwards; every small gain is invaluable as it means the low will catch us further east, resulting in a milder sea state and lighter winds. So, I am striving hard to stay ahead for as long as I can. Eventually, I will be caught, that’s for sure. But the longer I can wait, the better.”
“The GRIB files are currently working well regarding wind speed and direction. I’m also viewing satellite images through Windy (weather forecasting site) to monitor these weather systems.”
He offers interesting insights into the meticulous decision-making that led him to stay south and confront the powerful system, saying, “I was indeed the southernmost boat at that point, but I had the option to move north. However, it would have likely cost me more than sticking south. In terms of decision-making, I spent ten hours in front of the computer, running hundreds of scenarios to determine the best options.”
And despite the precariousness of the outcome…
“I still can’t say if it was the right choice. I’ll know for sure in just over 24 hours. It took me a long time to reach this decision. It has been exhilarating, facing off against this beast. I try not to obsess over the data on Adrena (routing software) because seeing those 60kts red arrows makes me think, ‘I don’t want to be caught there.’ I’m like a racehorse, focused solely on the course with blinders on.”
“I aim to sail fast towards the east; every meter counts.”
“The exciting part is that these fast foilers are enabling us to do things that were previously only possible with multihulls.”
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