Vendee Globe: Thomas Ruyant rounds Cape Horn in typical Horn weather
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 28 Dec 2024 10:42 AEDT
Thomas Ruyant - Vulnerable - IMOCA - November 2024 © Pierre Bouras
Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) has rounded Cape Horn, according to positions given in the 1800hrs UTC report for December 27.
He became the fourth Vendee Globe competitor to round the last of the three Capes that mark the 24,400nm course in the singlehanded round the world Vendee Globe Race.
A line up of competitors are set to round the notorious landmark and few are expected to round in the benign, by Cape Horn standards, that the first two competitors enjoyed.
Next to round is Jérémie Beyou who at the later 2200hrs sked was a few miles short of the Cape but was expected to round at 0600hrs UTC on December 28, and would be sailing in fresh 27kt NW winds gusting higher. However once fully into the South Atlantic the winds should ease and he will be puddle jumping the pressure cells and fronts, like the previous competitors as the clear the ICE Gate restrictions and move up the South American coast on their approach to the Doldrums.
A seven day forecast shows a series of low pressure cells swinging past Cape Horn, It is not certain at this stage as to who will round in what conditions - with several hoping to make their rounding between low pressure systems.
Youann Richomme continues to defend a narrow lead as he has done since rounding Cape Horn an at the latest sked 0200hrs UTC on Dec 28 Richomme was 88nm ahead of Charlie Dalin. Richomme was sailing significantly faster (3kts) over Dalin during the past 24hr period between skeds.
Richomme, the race leader, has 5600nm to sail to the finish at Les Sables d'Olonne, on the French Atlantic coast.