Vendee Globe – Day 5 – Past Madeira and Entering the Doldrums
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 14 Nov 00:12 PST
14 November 2024
Sam Davies (GBR/FRA) Initiatives-Coeur – en route to Madeira – November 13, 2024 © Sam Davies
The leading contenders in the race are still dominated by four boats, now separated by only 11nm according to the “Distance to Finish” (DTF) metric favored by race organizers.
At the forefront is Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea), closely followed by Charlie Dalin (MACIF), Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable), and Jeremie Beyou (Charal). They face a daunting distance of 23,000nm to reach the finish line in Les Sables-d’Olonne in January 2025.
The 40-entry solo, non-stop Vendee Globe race remains unaffected, with all yachts still competing. However, there have been some incidents, including torn mainsails, a missing Code Zero sail, halyard problems, and a malfunctioning watermaker.
What has transpired in the Vendee Globe by Day 5 at 0200hrs UTC on November 14:
For the women: Justine Mettreux (SUI) is the top female sailor currently ranking 9th on the water in the fully foiling Teamwork Team SNEF, while Sam Davies (GBR/FRA) in Initiatives Coeur is in 15th according to DTF.
In the full foilers: Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea) is in first place on DTF, followed by Charlie Dalin (MACIF) in second, Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) in third, and Jeremie Beyou (Charal) in fourth.
Among the daggerboarders: Benjamin Ferre (FRA) leads the daggerboard category, ranked 14th on the water, with Jean Le Cam (Finistere) in 16th and Conrad Colman (MS Amlin) in 17th, all within 11nm according to the DTF standings.
The leading yachts are expected to seek a passage through the Doldrums as they navigate toward the South Atlantic High, aiming for a slingshot effect past the Cape of Good Hope and into the Southern Indian Ocean.
Using the Predictwind routing feature with polar data for a fully foiling IMOCA60, the suggested path indicates an initial move westward, followed by a southward course through the Doldrums. Boat speed forecasts illustrate that vessels are expected to perform well, except for those along the African coastline, who may be affected by the Sahara desert’s influences. Four out of six weather feeds indicate a similar route with about a week of reliable weather data. Wind speeds are predicted to drop to 4-6 knots within a few days as the lead boats navigate through. Nevertheless, the Doldrums are known for their rapid shifts, and skippers will aim to cross through at the narrowest point before catching the trade winds on the opposite side.
Sail-World Publisher Mark Jardine provides a video update from 0200hrs and 0600hrs UTC.
Wednesday, November 13 | Vendée Live – English language update with Andi Robertson
Vendée Globe – Life Onboard: Day 4 with Conrad Colman MS Amlin – Watermaker issues
Day 4 report from Ollie Heer in the Vendée Globe
All is well aboard Malizia – Seaexplorer as it approaches Madeira
Challenging sailing conditions for Pip Hare | Vendée Globe 2024
“Kojiro is improving” | Vendée Globe 2024
Samantha Davies speeding towards Madeira! | Vendée Globe 2024
Maxime Sorel: “I’ve tried everything…” regarding his mainsail issue | Vendée Globe 2024
Arnaud Boissières continues on his way! | Vendée Globe 2024
The extent of Szabolcs’ damage | Vendée Globe 2024
The last hours have been challenging for Szabolcs Weöres… | Vendée Globe 2024
Sam Goodchild: “Charlie is moving quite fast” | Vendée Globe 2024
Conrad Colman overtakes Benjamin Dutreux | Vendée Globe 2024
Onboard #3 – Jérémie Beyou | CHARAL
