In the lead since January 17, in a race that started on January 7, Charles Caudrelier was still 2,000 miles (3,218 km) ahead of the skipper of Sodebo Ultim 3, Thomas Coville, who took the lead for second place on Armel Le Cléach.
A significant lead which seems to guarantee victory to the man nicknamed the Machine.
But the 49-year-old sailor will have to be wary in the coming days of the storm threatening the Bay of Biscay.
He will therefore have to decide this Tuesday whether he continues his route at high speed or whether he slows down the time it passes in order to avoid the huge waves predicted.
Depending on the strategy adopted, he will arrive in Brest next weekend or rather Monday.
He was this Tuesday, at midday, 1,500 miles (2,414 km) from the finish.
Since the start of the solo race, the six skippers competing have faced daunting conditions.
Caudrelier revealed on Monday that he had suffered damage in the first days of the race: “On the fourth day of the race, in the first depression, I broke my front arm.
At first I didn't see anything, then I discovered a piece of carbon in the cockpit.
I put straps everywhere.
You see what the sea can do to a boat like ours when it hits.”
Tom Laperche was forced to retire on January 18 after a collision with an object or animal.
“I have some oranges left, so it’s all good!”
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Added to these technical and physical difficulties are food concerns.
Most of the sailors involved had planned to circumnavigate the world in 45 days.
However, with the weather conditions, the damage, the stopovers, the sailboats have fallen behind schedule and should arrive after around fifty days of racing.
“There can no longer be on board what we like” underlines race director Guillaume Rotée.
The organizer, however, minimizes these problems: “They are not in extreme rationing.
There is no skipper in a critical situation.”
Observation shared by the fifth in the race Éric Péron: “
I haven't taken stock of my supplies.
I'll do it after Cape Horn, but I don't think it's a problem: I ate less than expected, and I had enough weight for about sixty days, so it should be fine.
And I have some oranges left, so everything is good!
".
If Caudrelier remains the overwhelming favorite, Thomas Coville still believes in his chances: "We are still in the match, anything can happen at any moment, that's what is magical and terrifying
. "