Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Dynamic 40 Leaderboard

Vendee Globe - Ruyant puts foot down through South Atlantic

by Vendee Globe on 26 Nov 2016
French sailor Thomas Ruyant - Vendee Globe 2016 Vendee Globe http://www.vendeeglobe.org
French sailor Thomas Ruyant was this morning knocking off the miles to the Cape of Good Hope as he blasts south-east ahead of a quick-moving depression.

Ruyant, a past winner of the Mini Transat and the Route du Rhum, was relishing another day of boat speeds into the high teens as he puts behind him the trauma of the St Helena High.

Although nearly 2,000nm back from leader Alex Thomson, Ruyant's Le Souffle du Nord pour le Projet Imagine was among the quickest boats in the fleet at the 0500 UTC position update.

Speaking to Vendee Globe HQ in Paris this morning the 35-year-old reported his speedo topping out at a lightning-fast 27 knots overnight as he attempts to stay ahead of the weather front some 50 miles behind.

The Vendee Globe first-timer was also celebrating hitting 32 degrees S - the furthest south he has ever been – as he chases down Jean-Pierre Dick and Jean Le Cam some 40nm below him.

“I’m in a little light patch, but still managing to make very fast headway,” Ruyant said. “I’m positioned nicely ahead of the low that’s accompanying our passage and it’s relatively easy going. We can’t afford to hang about if we want to keep pace with the system for as long as possible.

The front is around 50 miles behind and it’s making about the same speed as us. For the past 48 hours we’ve been through the entire sail wardrobe and right now I’m sailing under reefed main and J2 with 25 to 30 knots of NNW’ly and the occasional gust.

We’re set to hang onto this breeze for at least a day before it back rounds to the west. It’s great to be able to get the best out of the boat thanks to the smooth seas, but it can lead to some sharp accelerations at times. It’s exhilarating, freaky even sometimes…. It’s a good feeling! We make as much as 25-27 knots in the surf with an average of 20 knots.

I’m at 32°S - the furthest south I’ve been in my entire life. I’m in it for the long haul… It’s good to have neighbours and be part of a trio. It gives you references and I see that I’ve made up a bit of ground on Jean-Pierre and Jean. It motivates you to limit the deficit with the head of the fleet.”

At the head of the fleet Thomson's Hugo Boss gave away more miles to Armel Le Cléac'h as the gap between the pair was reduced to just 20nm.

And at 0500 UTC Le Cléac'h was hitting more than 19 knots while Thomson was only mustering 11 as he attempts to transition through an area of lighter winds.

The next depression that will fire them east is another 24 hours away – and it remains to be seen which of the two frontrunners will profit from it most.
Sea Sure 2025Palm Beach Motor YachtsSwitch One Design

Related Articles

2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage.
Posted today at 4:47 am
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world.
Posted on 5 Jun
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race.
Posted on 5 Jun
Brooklyn kids launch 7 ft boats they built by hand
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our boat-building students Brooklyn Boatworks, a local nonprofit that teaches NYC public school students—mostly from underserved communities—to build and launch their own wooden sailboats from 3 sheets of plywood, a set of plans, and tools.
Posted on 5 Jun
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 3
A six-hour bake on the water Veteran and multi-Olympic race officer Sulis was clear at the morning briefing, "Our priority is to get three races for the 49er so they can progress to the gold fleet."
Posted on 5 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 3
Platoon Aviation turn up the heat but don't dent American Magic Quantum Racing's lead After a disappointing first regatta of the season when they finished in an uncharacteristic last position in Saint-Tropez, the fortunes of the German flagged 2023 52 SUPER SERIES overall champions Platoon Aviation seem to have turned for the better.
Posted on 5 Jun
Diverse international fleet for 5th AEGEAN 600
The race start is a little over 1 month away In a sign that this newest of the world's 600-mile classic offshore races has reached maturity, organizers from the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club are pleased to announce yet another large international fleet will be assembled for the 2025 AEGEAN 600.
Posted on 5 Jun
Newport International Boat Show joins Sail Newport
Premier northeast boat show donates $5,000 to community efforts The Newport International Boat Show, presented by BankNewport announced today its continued involvement in supporting Sail Newport to aid in a shared dedication to attract new boaters to a lifetime of making memories on the water.
Posted on 5 Jun
Sinclair Championship Preview
Noroton Yacht Club (NYC) at the center of thriving Women's Sailing Program Up to a dozen of the country's top women sailing teams will come to the Noroton Yacht Club (NYC) again to compete in the 2025 Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship June 13th-15th.
Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 5 Jun