Vendée Globe Race Update: Monsters. INC
by Vendée Globe media 4 Dec 08:50 PST
4 December 2024
Waves trailing behind DMG MORI Global One – 2024 Vendée Globe © Kojiro Shiraishi
The Indian Ocean is feared by ocean racers, and the Vendée Globe leaders face their first monster. Longtime frontrunner Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) and second-placed Seb Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) are prepared for a challenging 24 hours that will thoroughly test their determination and their vessels.
While forecasts for the low, which has been threatening the leading boats for days, are showing slightly more manageable conditions, winds will still exceed 40 knots along with significant seas. However, it now appears that if Dalin and Simon can evade the worst of this system and not get engulfed by it, they could achieve a notable advantage, potentially gaining around 200 miles on the pursuing pack to their northwest.
“The depression is currently weaker than what was forecast yesterday, but it will still bring winds over 50 knots and waves up to seven meters,” analyzed Christian Dumard, the race’s weather consultant, this morning.
“The key question is whether they can maintain speed in these strong winds or if they will be caught by light winds coming up from behind,” explained Dumard. The answer may not be clear until Saturday when Dalin and Simon are expected to head back north, likely positioned well ahead of third-placed Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) and other skippers trailing him, including Briton Sam Goodchild in seventh place on VULNERABLE.
Richer or poorer, better or worse?
Richomme seemed fatigued when he spoke to the Vendée Live show this morning. He moved north to avoid the depression yesterday and may now regret that choice. “At the time, the decision was straightforward, but now it’s causing me to rethink it. The system is shifting, and I’m unsure about the southern option. It seems like Charlie and Seb may do quite well after all. The situation is starting to look favorable for them. The depression is filling in and diminishing significantly, which could allow them to gain,” Richomme explained.
The northern group will not be spared either; they are still expected to face winds of 30-35 knots at times. Paul Meilhat, in ninth place on Biotherm, reported experiencing 50 knots at the front last night.
Into the fire
Those just entering the Indian Ocean, passing Cape Agulhas today, will not have an easy time either. They will soon encounter their first low-pressure system, and although their monster is not as fierce as the one facing the top group, they will be quickly reminded that the Southern Oceans are serious business and that the relatively calm conditions of the South Atlantic are over.
Of course, technical issues are always lurking. Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer), currently in 12th, has fallen behind the low pressure system, as has Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitaine en Provence) earlier today. Their risk lies in being caught by the group moving rapidly towards the next low-pressure wave. Herrmann had to stop yesterday and overnight to fix a problem with his port foil ram pin. After repairing it, it broke again, forcing him to retrieve parts from within the boat before he could fix the foil bearing at a fixed angle.
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