This Tuesday, in the middle of the afternoon, the rain made its appearance in the sky of Sables d'Olonne.
She could accompany the first Vendée Globe skippers, whose arrival is scheduled for this Wednesday evening or early night.
The calculations continue to go well and, according to the estimates of Tuesday at the end of the day (in particular those of the skipper Yoann Richomme, whose calculations are a hit), it is now Yannick Bestaven who would win the race.
The skipper of “Maître Coq”, in the lead when crossing Cape Horn, would nevertheless arrive nearly 9 hours after Charlie Dalin, but his 10:15 am bonus for having come to the aid of Kevin Escoffier could allow him to win the cup.
Boris Herrmann, another bonus, could be placed on the second step of the podium.
In front of Charlie Dalin.
“This final is completely crazy, rejoices François Gabart, winner of the Vendée Globe in 2012. I imagine the sailors at the cleat.
It must be awesome and terrible at the same time.
Great because it's lucky to be able to experience a final like this and terrible because it must be exhausting.
"
Bonuses - which are customary in sailing - fuel every conversation.
No one, when the jury calculated them in mid-December, had imagined that they could upset the situation on arrival.
And create some embarrassment.
Wise, the community does not plan to challenge the regulation.
“There is a rule, it may seem unfair, it must be respected, believes François Gabart.
We could perhaps discuss it later, it would be healthy to ask ourselves if we could have done otherwise.
But this is not the point.
"
300 volunteers spaced 4 m apart will form a guard of honor
Nevertheless, on the side of "Apivia", the team of Charlie Dalin, we are preparing to celebrate the one who spent 85% of the race in the first two places and who is working during these last hours to dig the difference.
This Wednesday, for 6 hours, five artists will draw the portrait of Le Havrais on the beach with a rake.
A 90 m by 90 m fresco, modeled on the one that paid homage to Maradona on the beach of Notre Dame du Mont, in Vendée, will be immortalized by drones.
Since this weekend, the teams have also been busy recording a soundtrack, like those who host football matches from behind closed doors.
The skipper's fans have sent the recordings of their encouragement, which will be incorporated into the clamor that accompanied the ascent of the channel of Armel Le Cléac'h, winner of the last edition.
"We act as a relay between the supporters, forced to stay at home and Charlie," we summarize at Apivia.
The mayor of Sables d'Olonne had sent an open letter to President Macron to deplore the absence of the public along the channel, traditionally black with people during the return of the heroes of the Vendée Globe.
He obtained that 300 volunteers, separated by 4 m, can make a guard of honor.
But at what time?
Between 7 p.m., Wednesday, and 1:30 a.m., the return to the port will be impossible due to the tide.
A new puzzle for the organizers.
The sailors, who will arrive within this time, will choose to return by inflatable boat or to wait on board to go up the channel in the middle of the night.
It remains to be seen in what order.