Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Vendée Globe Day 63 morning update: Different lives, different oceans

by Vendée Globe 8 Jan 2021 23:52 PST 9 January 2021
Vendée Globe: Snow at sea a first time for Alan Roura © Alan Roura / La Fabrique

Skippers of the 14 IMOCAs in the South Atlantic now reap the benefits of clearer, bluer skies, sun warming their skin in the sun and their bodies recover during short restoring naps. The next group to reach Cape Horn and the release into the Atlantic have less than 700 nautical miles to go, among them Switzerland's Alan Roura and Briton Pip Hare. But for them in the South Pacific, conditions are freezing and uncomfortable. Now stretching of the latitude of Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil where Yannick Bestaven leads by 320 miles to near Tasmania where Sébastien Destremau the back marker is, the fleet spans 7,126 miles...

For Yannick Bestaven, the leader, the only thing missing in his life right now is a decent, consistent breeze. The sea is deep blue, the sky is clear, the sun is shining on the deck of Maître Coq IV. In his video sent yesterday he is shirtless and in sunglasses, is sailing 360 miles off the coast of Brazil under spinnaker in the warmth of life at 30 degrees South. Way back, but in the same race, approaching the Horn for his fourth time on consecutive Vendée Globes, at 57 degrees South, skippers endure their problems calmly and patiently and think twice before going on deck. "My hands are rock hard, but I'm glad I was able to sleep for the first time without my boots in my sleeping bag. I'm preparing my heaters" reported the the skipper of Mie Câline-Artisans Artipôle this morning.

For the Boissières-Roura-Hare-Beyou group, Cape Horn is still 700 miles away and a depression is arriving for them. And so that is a double edged sword. The advantage is good speeds bringing the final Cape closer, faster. The disadvantage, more hours if high stress, living on the edge in big seas and the freezing cold.

Alan Roura leadsthe group which will be next to Cape Horn. The Swiss skipper, the youngest in the race, is now just 14 miles ahead of Arnaud Boissières while Pip Hare on Medallia is now just 20 miles astern of 'Cali'. Roura on La Fabrique now has under 700 miles to go to make his second Vendée Globe Cape Horn rounding. All things being equal the three musketeers should go round within a few hours of each other.

Boissières is Les Sablais by adoption but comes from Arcachon and grew up with race leader Yannick Bestaven. He paid a rich complement to Pip Hare this morning,

"I admire what Pip Hare has done, the way she sails and the fact that she has changed her rudder. I don't know how she did it because it was rough, the conditions were rough. I think she's a hell of a girl. She's pragmatic, humble, she's great."

Merron-Giraud out of the storm, Cousin has repaired his mainsail

They had prepared for the system well and now they are out of the worst. Clément Giraud and Miranda Merron sailed in a big low which arrived from the north yesterday and last night generating gusts to over 45 knots. 600 miles west of Point Nemo, the two navigators had prep'd well and early and are now in better conditions behind the front making good speed even if the seas are still rough. Manu Cousin has managed to repair the tear in his mainsail.

Yannick Bestaven has a brain teaser in his path. High pressure bubbles are everywhere, preventing him from getting north fast and so the gap decreases to Charlie Dalin and Thomas Ruyant who are making over 18 knots this morning and are now 327 miles behind the leader.

That is another 100 miles lost in 24 hours for Bestaven.

Find out more...

Related Articles

Oliver Heer confirms 2028 Vendée Globe ambition
The Swiss skipper aims to return for the 2028 edition of the legendary solo race with a newer boat After completing the Vendée Globe 2024 on his first attempt, Oliver Heer, the Swiss-German skipper of Tut gut Sailing, has confirmed his intention to return for the 2028 edition of the legendary solo race. Posted on 3 Jul
Touching base with Francesca Clapcich
Francesca Clapcich on her 2028-2029 Vendee Globe campaign In late March, Italian-American sailor Francesca “Frankie” Clapcich announced that her Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing will campaign for the 2028-2029 edition of the Vendee Globe race. Posted on 13 May
An emotional evening in Les Sables d'Olonne
Les Sables d'Olonne lit up to celebrate the heroes of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 On Saturday 10 May, Les Sables d'Olonne lit up to celebrate the heroes of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025. An exceptional evening brought together tens of thousands of people, with strong emotions and unforgettable memories, despite the driving rain. Posted on 11 May
An evening honouring the Vendée Globe heroes
On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate the epic journey of the Vendée Globe and pay tribute to the skippers of the 2024 edition, during a spectacular evening filled with emotion and festivity. Posted on 5 May
Vendée Globe: A record-breaking 10th edition
An unprecedented level of competition The 10th edition of the Vendée Globe ends on an exceptional note, from a sporting, popular and media point of view. The level of competition has never been so high. Posted on 26 Mar
Vendée Globe - It's a wrap
Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh is back in Les Sables d'Olonne Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh completes solo non stop round the world passage but finishes outside the 2024 Vendée Globe ranking. Posted on 8 Mar
Vendée Globe 2024 Documentary
An extraordinary event recaptured over 52 minutes There were 40 solo skippers who set off on November 10 in front of a cheering crowd, for a race that will go down in history. Posted on 8 Mar
Fabrice Amedeo finishes 32nd in the Vendée Globe
Only Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group) is now left racing Former political journalist turned ocean racer Fabrice Amedeo completed his second Vendée Globe today (Tuesday) when he crossed the Les Sables d'Olonne finish line at 14h UTC to take in 32nd place. Posted on 4 Mar
Manuel Cousin finishes 31th in the Vendée Globe
The 57 year old ocean racer completes his second successful Vendée Globe After 111 days and 38 minutes racing since leaving Les Sables d'Olonne on 10th November French skipper Manuel Cousin crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe today at 1240hrs UTC. Posted on 1 Mar
Armel Le Cléac'h: “An epic race with a great win”
Le Cléac'h is a true Vendée Globe legend Armel Le Cléac'h won the 2016 Vendée Globe and held the Vendée Globe record for eight years. That was until Charlie Dalin came along and finally smashed it out the park this time. Posted on 28 Feb
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterBarton Marine Pipe GlandsCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER