"I can not wait for it to end, there is a little fatigue," Louis Burton admitted Monday, not very far from being exhausted.
"But that's what makes the thing even more brilliant and exciting", quickly added the privateer from Saint-Malo, who has all but surrendered at the dawn of the 79th day of a totally insane Vendée Globe.
At 9:00 a.m., off Cape Finisterre, the skipper of Bureau Vallée 2 was 3rd, 85 miles from Charlie Dalin (Apivia) who had just maneuvered to get closer to the DST (Traffic Separation Device), and tied with Boris Herrmann who has been following Dalin's trail for the past few hours, without taking any risks.
And we understand it.
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The German knows that if all goes well, his 6 hours of compensation granted by the jury for having participated in the rescue operation for Kevin Escoffier can allow him to win the setting in Les Sables d'Olonne.
And this, even if it does not cross the finish line ahead of its competitors on Wednesday.
According to the latest routings, Dalin would also be the first to return.
If this is the case, the Norman could experience funny sensations and live an unbearable wait for the verdict rendered, perhaps, after calculations.
In the same case as Herrmann but with a slightly bigger bonus (10h15), Yannick Bestaven (5th) chose to go due north, like Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut, 4th +298) to get strong wind before the turn towards Vendée.
For the moment, Maître CoQ is 343 miles behind Dalin.
The difference does not panic the Rochelais, happy to be the actor of a final "historic" and totally undecided.
"Boris may be the virtual winner but will he have the guts and the coolness?"
Sebastien josse
“No one can say who will win.
So much can still happen, explains Sébastien Josse from the ground, three participations in the Vendée Globe (5th in 2005) and weather consultant for the race management.
One can hit a container, the other can miss a jibe.
As on a Figaro stage, very few things are going to be played out: with a grain, a tilt of five degrees which can erase the bonus of those who have one.
The roads diverge so much ... The more they approach, the more you will have to manage the pressure and show composure.
In my opinion, Charlie is arguably the best at this game.
Boris may be the virtual winner but will he have the guts and the composure?
He has had them for the moment but we must hold on. "
Beyou's "nightmare"
If this crazy finish holds everyone in suspense, Jérémie Beyou, for his part, inevitably has trouble getting excited.
The skipper of Charal, big favorite for victory at the start of Les Sables d'Olonne but forced to return to repair, which sent his ambitions to the bottom, is dragging himself into the doldrums, 2,500 miles from the battle naval.
“It's nightmarish!
I am at 4 knots while the others are heading at 20 knots towards victory and Les Sables d'Olonne.
It's hard."
The harsh law of the Vendée Globe.
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