Vendee Globe - Cape to Cape
by Vendee Globe on 6 Dec 2016
Alex Thomson passes the Kerguelen Islands - Vendee Globe Race, December 2016 Marine Nationale / TF1 / Nefertiti Prod
Alex Thomson has recovered some 19 miles against race leader Armel Le Cleac'h since the 1400hrs TU ranking this afternoon and as the duo spear eastwards on port gybe in a strengthening NW'ly wind, the British skipper is slightly quicker..
Some 700 miles behind them Seb Josse is doing his best to avoid the worst of the low pressure system making slowly SE looking to get some relief nearer the centre of the system. He is in preservation mode, protecting his boat, himself and the damaged foil as much as possible
Eric Bellion became the 17th skipper to pass the Cape of Good Hope longitude this afternoon at 1632hrs TU, 19 hours and 36 minutes after Conrad Colman.
Nandor Fa (Spirit of Hungary) told today how he had a small celebration when he crossed the longitude.
'I had a small champagne, a present from my wife, and I drank a small glass. It really was a feast mood to be in a different ocean now. And to be there exactly four weeks after the start was a bit special. I wanted to be faster but we did not have wind in the Saint Helena but we are here. I don’t watch the leaders because it upsets me they are so far ahead.
But we have a great group here. I was upset about Kojiro and e-mailed him. I told him I take the Spirit of Yukoh with me and I think that is good for me to have Yukoh with me. It was an emotional day for me yesterday.'
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