Even taking out the binoculars, the 245 inhabitants of Tristan Da Cunha, an archipelago lost in the middle of the South Atlantic, are unlikely to see the gray and yellow mainsail of Apivia, the leading boat of the Vendée Globe cruising offshore.
After several grueling days, punctuated by numerous maneuvers to thwart the traps of the Saint Helena anticyclone, Charlie Dalin finally sees the end of the tunnel.
And as often in such a place, the light comes from below.
The rookie therefore plunges south, to the west of the pebbles mentioned above, to touch the breath of a first low pressure, just above the ice line.
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In a hurry to find downwind winds and to accelerate on his foils, the Normand took the opportunity to widen the gap a little further at the head of the fleet.
From 52 miles at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, its lead over Thomas Rettant (LinkedOut) swelled to 71 miles on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
If it lost some feathers in a transfer made at dawn, this well-padded mattress is welcome before tackling the surfs and flights of the Great South.
Dalin and Rouillard should cross the Cape of Good Hope, the second round-the-world crossing point, at the start of next week.
"20 knots without aiming for Bonne-Espérance, it was strange"
Samantha davies
It will be a long time for Jean Le Cam, amazing dean on Yes We Cam!
(3rd, +364 miles) and for his three pursuers Kévin Escoffier (PRB, +442), Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ, +450) and Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco, +450).
His repairs done, Alex Thomson regained some speed (8 knots) but Hugo Boss is now 630 miles behind the lead (8th).
Actress of a nice duel with Louis Burton in the East for several days, Samantha Davies, like the Malouin, decided to cut the front and go due South.
And the Englishwoman is reaping the fruits of her choice since Initiatives-Cœur snatched 9th place at Bureau Vallée 2. “I think I chose the right moment to cut the forehead.
I found a lot of wind there, I was sometimes at 20 knots on the foils, and it was weird because I felt like I was across the road.
20 knots without aiming for Bonne-Espérance, it was strange, but I had no choice, ”Davies explained on Wednesday morning.
It remains to be seen if his plunge will allow him to grab more places in the standings in the coming days.
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