Vendée Globe – A complex Pacific Ocean

by CD and BS / Great Circle on 17 Dec 2016 The sailing conditions in the Pacific Ocean are not easy to handle with several low pressure systems north of the Antarctic exclusion zone.

The Pacific Ocean is not simple to negotiate. All the boats were welcomed in the biggest Ocean by a low pressure system south of Tasmania. The small low pressure systems which circulate north of the Antarctic exclusion zone ( ZEA) are not very accurately positioned by the models, which makes the game more complex for the skippers.

Hugo Boss and Banque Populaire VIII are now sailing in different systems. Armel Le Cléac'h is on the edge of the high and should be from tomorrow in a southwesterly flow on the back of a big area of low pressure which should bring him good conditions on the route to Cape Horn. Alex Thomson is still trying to get out of a small low pressure system with light wind zones and easterly winds.

SMA and Maître CoQ are playing around the center of a low pressure system which is blocking their route east. The conditions are very unstable with big variations in wind speed. Will they manage to cross this axis of low pressure to benefit from North-Westerly winds behind it or not? Answer at the end of the day.

The group made up of Quéguiner, Finistère Mer Vent and StMichel Virbac has good sailing conditions. As for Thomas Ruyant, he has to slow down until the low pressure passes to his South. The wind may increase to more than 50 knots with gusts up to 60 knots to the north of this system.

The conditions are a little better in the Indian Ocean today. The 14 skippers are sailing with the two low pressure systems which are moving East.

Romain Attanasio and Sébastien Destremau have jibed and are sailing towards North-East, probably to have a little less wind in the depression which should catch them up within 36 hours with winds ranging from 40 to 50 knots.